MY Morning Thoughts. 



thank Thee Lord, for having kept, 
My soul and body while I slept. 
Pray Thee Lord that through this day 
In all I do and think aud say — 
may be kept from harm and sin 
And made both pure and good within. 




Class T \ 

Book._ 



r ^ 



GopyrightN" 2££ 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSnV 




OM^^, 



A Message For You, 



BY 



WILLIAM TELFER 

A Member of the? Indiana Conference, Bloomington, Ind. 
Author of "Loyalty to God." 



"My strength Is as the strength of ten, 

Because my heart is pure." 

— Tennyson. 

"Ye shall receive power after that the Holy 
Ghost is come upon you." — Jesus. 



Copyrighted, 1910, by William Teller. 



Pentecostal Publishing Company, 
Louisville, Ky. 






©CI.A361877 



—TO MY MOTHER— 

Whose life of sacrifice for her children 
I appreciate even more as the years 
go by. 



CONTENTS. 



Page 

Introduction 7 

Be Yourself 9 

Manliness in Keligion 15 

To Men of Wealth 20 

To Young Men— The Use of Poverty 26 

To Men of Fifty 33 

Ideals of Manhood 40 

Profanity 44 

Courage in Every Day life 49 

A Plea for the Children 54 

Honor Thy Father and Mother 62 

What to do With Enemies 68 

Christ or a Million Dollars 77 

Worldly Compromise 81 

Sacrifice 90 

Separation 98 

The Secret of Spiritual Power 110 

Two Men 116 

Dying to Self 122 

■Self Control 126 

Victory 131 

Family Eeligion 134 

Christians and Popular Amusements 138 

The Enemy of the Home 150 

The American Saloon 157 

The Tohacco Question 166 

The Defects of Others 183 



A. Forgiving Spirit 188 

How to Get Love 195 

Love Abounding 199 

Jesus Only 205 

Blood and Fire 208 

Faith at Work 212 

''Such as I Have" 217 

Faint Hearted 222 

A Thorn in the Fle^h 228 

What is the Matter With the Church 236 

The Church Boss 246 

The Fear of Man 251 

A Peculiar People 260 

A Witnessing Church 263 

The Revival Meeting is Not All 268 

The Cost of a Revival 273 

The Need of the Holy Spirit 277 

To Young Preachers 283 

From House to House 288 

Financing the King'dom 295 

To the Aged 305 

The Whole Wide World 310 



M'mOD'U'CTIOiN. 

The title of this book was stamped upon my mind, 
as if placed there by a hand — the hand of the Lord. 

I have allowed my pen freedom to consider a va- 
riety of STiibjects of vital interest to the individual 
and to the church. 

While others wor(k in material things my field is 
the moral realm. I speak, write or labor directly 
*^upon men and for men,'^ to improve their lives, 
bring them to Grod, or lift them to higher planes of 
Christian living. 

Ood has millions of workers, each with his talent 
and sphere of labor. There are diversities of gifts, 
Tbut the same Spirit. 

There is room, and need for all. The hand may 
not say to the foot, I have no need of thee. What 
one cannot do others gladly give their lives to ac- 
complish. 

And so we have an Edison, a Moody, a Gladstone, 
a Livingstone or a F^rances Willard, besides unnamed 
multitudes, working in their own spheres. And, each, 
however humble, is needed and helped by the Holy 
Spirit in filling his mission for humanity. 

Thus the work of the world is carried forward. 
And every true man is a co-worker together with 
God. 

This book is especially designed for those who 



have neither time nor disposition to pursue a learned, 
philosophical treatise. 

Many of the chapters are but an illustration of a 
truth. They have appeared in religious and temper- 
ance papers, and some as tracts, before being placed 
in this more permanent form. 

If they stir men to thoug*ht and action in the 
direction of a better life, the writer will have cause 
to praise the Lord that his labor has not been in 
vain. WILLIAM TELFEE. 

Bloomington, Ind., Jan. 29, 1910. 



OHAPTEE I. 
BE YOURSiElLF. 

"This above all — to thine ownself be true, 
And it must follow, as the night the day. 
Thou canst not then be false to any man." 

— Shakespeare. 

The great penal institutions photograph, describe 
and also preserve an impressiion of the thumb and 
fingers of each criminal. 

It is said that the lines and curvatures upon the 
thum'bs and fingers are distinct and mark the indi- 
viduality of the criminal in an unerring way. 

How remarkable. 'God works not as man. Upon 
His works is the impress of infinite resources. Upon 
man's is written limitation. Behold God's great- 
ness, and man's greatness. 

The individuality of each extends to every organ 
and function of the body and soul. 

How foolish then to wish to be like another. We 
may learn from all. But if we would develop the 
ibest lives -we must 'be ourselves. 

A minister ^Vho desired to bring his church to a 
higher plane of efficiency conceived the idea of cir- 
culating blank cards among the members asking 
them to indicate one thing that they would be will- 
ing to do as their part of the church work, 

"This came to me," he said, ''as the Spirit's lead- 
ing. I believe that I was directed, and am thankful 

9 



10 A Message for You. 

that I have been successful." His friend replied, 
'^Why S'bould you not be led in your work? You 
are God's child. He is interested in you and has 
promised His children guidance." 

NOT ORIGINAL. 

But here lies the difficulty. Another says, ''This 
man did so and succeeded. Why should not I?" 
And he takes another's methods iand seeks to fit them 
into his life and conditions. But there is a misfit. 
The machinery does not move. There is want of 
'Correspondence ; lack of adjustment. And men say, 
''Something is wrong. There is lack of harmony. 
Things are out of joint." 

DAVID''S SLING. 

David felt an inward stirring to meet the giant 
'who defied the armies of the living God. Subsequent 
history shows that it was ia divine pro^mpting. 

King Saul said to the youth, "You can't fight 
Goliath. You are a youth and he a mighty warrior. ' ' 
*'Ah, yes," said David, "but I killed a lion and a 
hear wihile tending my father's sheep. And the 
giant shall be .as one of them. ' ' 

A WOODEN MAN. 

"Very well, said the King, "Take my armour. 
Here is my sword and shield, my helmet, 'buckler and 
breastplate." And he placed them on the lad, who 
alt 'once was changed from a free spirited, agile youth 



A Message for You. 11 

to one who looked like a inoiiiLnienl;. He walked like 
a wooden man. He lost confidence in himself. His 
spirit was crushed. The heroic element was gone. 
He stood a coward hefore the King, being forced to 
do s-ervice as a slave. 

At last, after great inward resistance, he was a'ble 
to lift his eyes and look the King in the face and say, 
*^I do not know Why, but I cannot use this sword 
and spear, but I can slay the enemy of my Lord .and 
King.'' 

Stripping himself of the armour at ionce the spirit 
of courage returned, and girded him from, within. 
Kepairing to the brook he selected ^ve smooth stones 
and took his own sling, with which he had killed 
(birds and beasts in the field. He knew from practice 
what he could do. Besides, was not he trusting God? 

The giant, treating him with contempt, cried out, 
* ' Am I a dog that thou comest to me 'wiith sword and 
staves?" "I come to thee," replied the youth, ''in 
the name of the Lord, and will this day give thy 
body to the beasts of the field." 

And suiting the action to the word, he bounded 
forth in the strength of God and lodged one of the 
pebbles in the giant's forehead and carried his head 
to the King. 

David was successful 'because he fought with his 
own weapons in his own way. He was used to them. 
They were simple but had been proven. They did 
not suit the King but they fitted David. And Da- 
vid, not Saul, fought the battle. 



12 A Message for You. 

YOURSELF IN PEAYER. 

A Christian on his bed in the early morning hour 
was in meditation and prayer. He desired to draw 
near to God and receive a hlessing. He thong'ht of 
Abraham pleading with Ood, acknowledging that he 
was but dust and ashes. He remembered others who 
were mighty in prayer. But comparing himself with 
them he discovered that he was quenching the spirit 
of prayer. 

At this juncture there passed through his mind 
the thought, be yourself. You may not have other 
peoples' experiences. Let Grod deal with you. Let 
Him work through you. He formed you a different 
individuality from any other that has ever lived. 
He has work for you that no other can do, and he 
•will bless you suitably to your nature, and "vvill use 
you, if fully surrendered to Him, as He has used 
others. But your own individuality must be surren- 
dered and used for 'God. You must trust God to 
use you as you are, and may !be made by his grace. 

The church is injured by 'Christians wishing to 
be like other people. 

IMITATORS. 

Preachers have been spoiled by imitating Talmage. 
Young men have gone down by servilely following a 
Chalmers or P. W. Roibertson. Who of the 'many 
imitators of Sam Jones have manifested the talent of 
this Prince of Evangelists? They 'might copy his 
shrewd sayings but there was lacking the spirit and 



A Message for You. 13 

genius of t'he man who rebuked, instructed and drew 
multitudes to him and to a better life. 

We may dearn from all but shiould slavishly follow 
none. Preachers, orators, statesmen, philosophers, 
painters and artists, may inspire us but we should 
yield our individuality to none. It is all we have. 
Surrender it and we are nondescripts. Build on it 
and we may attain -all that is possible to us. It is 
God's gift to us, our talent for service. 

Mr. Beecher writing his "Lectures To Young 
Men," was discouraged 'by thinking that he could 
not write as Burrows, the great English writer. Fi- 
nally, throwing away all Tuodels, he produced a 
'book that has few equals for plain Anglo Saxon, and 
for going to the heart of men and things. But he 
worked in his own harness. 

At great religious campmeetings v^here giants 
gather for battle, hundreds of men and women meas- 
ure their lives by the line and plummet of the 
leaders. 

You may know What school tlie preacher has at- 
tended iby his mannerisms. His pronunciation and 
ideas have the stamp of the teacher and institution. 

THEIR SHIBBOLETH. 

I have known holiness professors iby their shibbo- 
leth. They use a form of words. Which often lose 
force and meaning. They say them and seem satis- 
fied. And having used the words their set was sat- 
isfied, and placed upon them the seal of endorsement. 



14 A Message for You. 

They were orthodox. They helonged without ques- 
tion. They could "be trusted. 

WEAR YOUR OWN CLOTHES. 

But in this there was loss of Ood-given individu- 
ality. They surrendered this precious gift. And 
what did they receive in return? Not increased 
manhood, nor increased sainthood, hut their lives 
were narrowed, their sympathies limited, their prej- 
udices increased and their mental and spiritual 
growth stunted. 

He who will be himself 'may not dazzle society. 
The clothes that he can afford may not be as fine 
as those he could steal but they have the advantage 
of being his own. And no one can confront him, 
strip him, or disgrace him. 

The minister who gets his sermons from volumes 
of homiletics may surprise his congregations with 
'brilliancy and show of originality but he is in dan- 
ger of the man in the pew who reads, and the deadly 
parallel. Lazy and untruthful, he can not develop 
the best that is in him. He is standing on a false 
basis. Whereas, if he used all helps as the bee uses 
the sweets of flowers and fruits, transmuting them 
into honey, he would be nourished and feed his 
flock with his own honest product. 



A Message for Yoiu 15 

CHiAPT'ElR II. 

Z^IlAiNiUmESS IN RElLIGMO'lSr. 

"A Christian is the highest style of man." — Young. 

"The more absolute the surrender of the will the more 
perfect will be the temper of our courage and the strength 
of our manliness." — Thomas Hughes. 

Men are found in saloons, gambling hells and at 
race courses. The streets, 'business places and po- 
litical halls throng with them. They abound in 
amusement halls, at lodge and clu'brooms, but men 
in a prayer meeting, all their own, is suggestive. 

It is a common report that more women than men 
are in church. One writer says, that of twenty 
million Protestant church memibers in the United 
States, thirteen million are women ; and that seven- 
ty-five per cent of the boys leave the Sunday school 
during the adolescent age. He quotes a Catholic 
paper which says that at the same communion rail 
there are ten young women to one young man. 

It is even said that preachers preach more to 
women than men ; that their message is keyed to the 
feminine mind and heart rather than to vigorous 
manhood. The preponderance of women in the con- 
gregation modifies the preacher's message and meth- 
ods. 

A WEAK RELIGION. 

The charge is made that the virile element in our 
Chittstianity is losing out. Our religion instead of 



16 A Message for You. 

abounding in ''masculine qualities of self-control, 
moral courage, daring," is effeminate, sentimental, 
ti'mid, pliant. It lacks ruggedness, boldness, vigor. 
There is nothing more attractive than a perfect 
woman, nobly planned, but a woman is not a man 
and never can Ibe; she may be ''mannish." And a 
man cannot be a woman, though he may be "woman- 
ish." 

MEN SET THE PACE. 

One should not imitate the other as one cannot be 
the other. Man is king in the creative realm, born 
to co'mmand, designed to lead, not to imitate woman, 
even in the spiritual realm. She is not his model. 
Here he is to be himself, masculine, masterful, and 
to set the pace as he does in the business world and 
polities. 

PICTURES OF CHRIST. 

The pictures of Christ that have come to us from 
the middle ageis\ are laden with the spirit of that age. 
They speak of submission and devotion. They 
breathe emotion and self-sacrifice, but they do not 
represent 'great strength, courage, manliness and a 
"commanding personality," which were the ruling 
attributes in 'Ohrist's character. 

These pictures do noble womanhood no credit, and 
they do not represent ideal manhood. 

It is extremely dou'btful whether art should at- 
tempt pictures of the Christ. The supreme quality 
of the divine Man cannot be pictured. 



A Message for You. 17 

CHRIST LIKE A WOIklAN". 

The writer 'heard a minister say that the Christ 
was more like a woman than a man. He w^as think- 
ing of His gentleness, humility, meekness, love, the 
su'bmissiive graces. But he forgot the Christ with a 
whip in His hand, driving money changers out of 
the temple, crying out with indignation in voice and 
manner, "Ye have made my Father's house a house 
of merchandise and a den of thieves." He forgot 
the Christ calling the rulers of the church of that 
day hypocrites and whited sepulchres. He forgot 
Christ as a 'boy out\^dtting the lawyers and doctors 
in the temple. When did He show lack of mental 
grasp and courage in all of His encounters with keen 
witted and aggressive enemies? When He opened 
His mouth He spake as one having authority. 

Jesus was a man in all that pertains to a man. He 
was a manly, complete character. 

Christianity is not effeminate. It is mighty, all- 
conquering. Given full sway, it is a resistless power 
designed to conquer the kingdoms of this world for 
Christ. 

^'my wife's religiox."' 
With weak and low ideals of Christianity men 
are not attracted to the church. No wonder that 
they are so often content to say, "My wife carries 
my religion. I expect to get to heaven on her ac- 
count." They are thinking of the average Chris- 
tianity, lacking in interest, and life, which is as 



18 A Message for You. 

nearfy like a laving man as the form covered with 
'Clothes standing in front tof a Jew^s clothing estab- 
lishment. It may look like a man, but it is only a 
*' professor/' 

RELIGION IS MIGHTY. 

The true 'Ohristian ideal appeals to men, as well 
as to women. It grips the conscience and captivates 
the heart of active men, strong men, men of brains, 
m'cn of laffairs, men of might. Of the Christian spir- 
it may he said what Shakespeare said of mercy: 
*' 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest : it becomes 
The throned monarch better than his erown.^' 
The 'Christian ideal appeals to the nohlest in man 
and develops the strongest in him and increases 
strength. It demands the soTdierly spirit, bravery, 
daring determination even at the point of death. 

HOLINESS IS POWER. 

The element 'of robust, vigorous life is restored to 
the iministry and the church in the spirit of holi- 
ness. I mean "the sanctification without which no 
man tshall see the Lord." When God's children re- 
ceive their Pentecost, the iScripture is fulfilled : * * Yo 
sihall receive power, after that the Holy G-host is 
come upon yiou. ' ' Power is the need of the church ; 
power for service, power to suffer and be strong, 
power to be patient, power to give money, time and 
talent — ^all for 'Cod and humanity, power to witness 
everywhere for Jesus. 

Soime would cure the hurt of the church and re- 



A Message for You. 19 

store tone to waning vigor by organization, 'by new 
metihods. This is like giving a starving man a crutch 
for food. (His need is vital. Nourishment ! strength ! 
is his cry. Outer props are makeshifts and will not 
cure weakness or stay death. 

A VICTORIOUS ARMY. 

The word of 'Moses to Joshua, his successor, 
''obey the eommandments and statutes of the Lord 
Grod and walk in His ways," made him a conqueror. 
His same word heeded hy the church would make 
it a mighty victorious army. 






20 A Message for You. 

'CHJAPTIEE III. 

TO MIBN OiF WiEIAIjTH. 

"Look not every man on his own things, but every man 
also on the things of others." — Paul. 

'A foreman on pnTDlic works sai'd, "My work is dis- 
'Coura^ing ibecause men in my department are not 
first 'Class workmen. I can not turn out work as I 
would like, nor get pay for my men that will insure 
good work. ' » • 

Men w^li'O make it possible to build fortunes for 
their employers often work hard and live plain. 
Their -wages are small. 

At the end of the year they may have nothing 
to show for their work. Their wages are 
and environment are often not an encouraging out- 
look. 

The eapitalist may reply that he bears the respon- 
sibility of the 'business. His are the risks. He may 
win or lose. His fate is in the markets and the men 
and thousands of eircumstanees. He knows not what 
liil iblast may strike him. 

The la'borer has no responsibility. He assumes no 
risks. He knows w'hat his wages will be though the 
business may not pay dividends. 

But the capitalist, in business from year to year, 
making thousands of dollars, is able to form an esti- 



A Message for You. 31 

mate of liis profits for the incoming year on tlie bavsis 
of past years. 

If he wills to he just to the men who are united 
with him in building his fortune he can remunerate 
them in a way that will keep them from sinking into 
deeper poverty and degradation while he is being 
enriched in the business which they both promote. 

CHURCH ACTIVITY NOT THE TEST. 

Such employers are often leaders in church and 
public benevolent enterprises. But church support, 
in general, is not all. It may not be the heart of 
Christianity. 

Are working men, without whom big fortunes 
could not be reared, treated right? Are they getting 
their dues? Are they regarded in the matter at is- 
sue between them and their employers as brothers? 

The letter of the law may be followed. The 
men hire for wages which are paid. They might fare 
worse elsewhere. They might go without work and 
their children without 'bread. 

This may be true but is wide of the mark. It does 
not touch the source of the trouble. 

THE GOLDEN RULE. 

Are leaders in church Christians toward 
their workmen? What about the Golden Rule 
in business? '^All things whatsoever ye would that 
men should do to you do ye even so to them, for this 
is the law and the prophets. ' ' Is this high enuncia- 



22 A Message for You. 

tion of truth to be proclaimed from pulpit and dis- 
reganded in practical life ? 

We stagger in the presence of the golden rule. 
Think of loving others as ourselves. Do we? (,^an 
we do it? We are strong men, having good homes, 
well dressed, with friends, and a good living, with 
something back of us as a provision for "the rainy 
day," perhaps rolling in wealth and luxury, 'while 
around us are all classes and conditions of men — 
the weaJk, poor, sick, ignorant and vicious, a mass 
of helpless, suffering, sinning men. Are we doing 
our duty to them ? Do we love them as we love our- 
selves? Do we treat them as brothers? Or is our 
attitude toward them one of selfishness? 

The battle wages around the golden rule. It is 
hard fought and long continued. This writer has 
eome through the struggle with some convictions. 

EQUALITY AMONG MEN". 

1. A state of equality among men is impossible. 
Divide all possessions today, and inequality would 
reign before tomorrow's sun. Difference in ability 
is everywhere found. We read that *'He gives to 
every man according to his several aibility." This 
is forever true. Real good in each life must grow 
from within, must develop as the acorn grows the 
oak. 

A PROPER SELF LIFE. 

2. There is a self life which is not selfishness. A 
man owes care for himself and his family which may 



A Message for You. 23 

not 'be transferred. *'If any provides not for iiis 
own, and specially for those of 'his 'Own house, 'he 
hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." 
1 Tim. 5:8. 'So that When a man provides for his 
own in the sig'ht of Ood, 'he may not be judged as 
selfish, though others may not fare so well. 

THE UNWORTHY ARE OUR BROTHERS. 

3. Selfishness is exaggerated self life. It disre- 
gards the injunction; ''Look not every man on -his 
own things, but every man also on the things of oth- 
ers.'* Phil. 2:4. But it eyes dts own until the fatal 
gaze becomes fixed in iron mould. 

4. There are weak members of society. *'The 
poor you always have with you." All are not un- 
worthy. But many are weak. "We then that are 
strong ought to bear the infirmities 'of the weak and 
not to please ourselves." Rom. 15:1. Tlie weak and 
unworthy are our 'brothers. "And a 'brother is born 
for adversity." Pro v. 17:17. 

This problem is up for solution. It is well to lo- 
cate the trouble. Tbe physician's 'great effort is to 
diagnose the disease. Treatment afterward is ■com- 
paratively easy. 

A SOLUTION OF THE LABOR PROBLEM. 

5. The clash between laJbor and capital is at the 
point of selfishness. We speak of t)etter understand- 
ing between employers and employees. Commissions 
adjudicate between them in hours >of open rupture. 
Learning and law are needed in settlement of differ- 



24 A Message for You. 

ences. But selfishness is at tlie TDottom of the labor 
trouible. 

LOVE THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD. 

6. Love is the solvent. Love on hoth sides. Love 
in the heart of capitalists will lead them to con- 
sider the rights and needs of their employees. And 
love in the hearts of employees vT'ill cause them to 
treat employers as brothers beloved. They will not 
cheat them, or eomibine to destroy their bus^uess. 

LEADING CHURCH MEMBERS MAY BE INFIDELS. 

7. Many reputable members of society and lead- 
ing members of church are infidels at heart. Their 
speech betrays them. Unbelievers in Goi's siglit 
their sin is idolatry. Does not the Bible say that 
^'eovetousness is idolatry?" The record is that ''God 
hates the eovetous man.'' 

IDOLATERS IN THE CHURCH. 

The doom of the rich farmer, recordci in the 
gospels, shows what Jesus thinks of men whose lives 
are machines to grind out money and amass wealtJi. 
We do not read that the rich farmer was unjust. 
He was selfish. He loved the world and lived for it. 
To get and to hold this world's goods was the pas- 
sion of his life. 

Jesus pronounced his life a failure and him a fool. 
And he had no 'better place in all the universe for 
him than hell for which he had diligently prepared 
himself during all the years of his probation. 



A Message for You. 25 

A SEVERE TEST. 

Men who 'build great fortunes in the midst of mis- 
ery and destitution close their eyes to the cry of the 
needy and are hlind to distress and ignorance which 
money rightly used would greatly relieve. The word 
of God speaks: ''Whoso hath this world's good, 
and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up ])is 
'bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the 
love of God in him? My little children, let us 

not love in word, neither in tongue ; but in deed and 
in truth." "He that loveth not his brother whom 
he hath seen, how can he love iGod whom he hath 
not seen?" 1 John 3, 17-18; 4, 20. 

Young men of this generation, beware ! We are 
living in an age of material prosperity. Vast pos- 
sibilities are in the reach of men of brains and en- 
ergy. Men may accumulate money by millions. Small 
earnings and a competency are despised. A spirit 
of wild speculation fills the air. Men 'will be rich. 
By all means they will be rich. 'Listen to the Scrip- 
tures: ''They that will be rich fall into temptation 
and a snare and into many hurtful lusts which drown 
men in destruction and perdition." 1 Tim. 6:9. 



26 A Message for You. 

TO YlOUIsTiGl M/EIISr— TEDE! USE! OF PIOiYEuRT'Y. 

"Nature when she adds difficulties adds brains." 

— Emerson. 

"I ihave wonked on a farin, taught school, run a 

mill, ibeen a soldier, and a preacher. And it has 

taken all these to teach me common isense and keep 

m.e level," were words spoken hy a successful 

preacher of middle life. 

A RICH SNOB. 

A gentleman went into a printing offi<je. A piece 
of work had been left in the hands of an employe, 
who said it had been handed to the employer. The 
young employer is the son 'of a wealthy politician. 
He knew nothing of it and seemed not to 
care. Foolish young man! His father would 
not have made such a iblunder. He was alert to his 
interests, but his son, in the assurance of his father 's 
money, eould afford to maintain a cheap indepen- 
dence. He stupidly stands in his own light. 

Had he heen a poor boy, striving to make a living, 
he would have heen polite and solicitous to gain 
patronage. 

His father's money is ruining him. A little whole- 
some poverty with right training might save him 
from dissoluteness, and his father from heart pangs 
and financial loss. 



A Message for You. 27 

MONEY TO BURN. 

A wealthy Senator, rising from a 'barber's chair, 
offered the cnstomary price for the work done. He 
was promptly reminded by the tonsorial professor, 
**why Senator, your son always gives me a five dol- 
lar 'bill for his work." **0h, yes," said the sage old 
Solon, "but he has a rich old father yon know, and 
I have not." And he might have added, ''my son" 
has not had the hard sense ground into him by life 's 
stem experiences that his father has." 

I am not advocating poverty for poverty's sake, 
and am not speaking of the poor living in dens and 
hove'ls and slums of cities, but of the poor, 'who must 
work. They may have plenty of plain food and 
plain clothes, hut they must economize, be indus- 
trious, and do their part to make a living. In their 
homes there may he right instruction. Such poverty 
rightly taken, teaches industry, economy and many 
virtues, which make for character and may result in 
wealth. 

A RICH UNCLE. 

Young men comiplain that they have no chance 
in life. They are not appreciated. They are not slow 
to boast that if some rich uncle would die and leave 
them money, they'd do husiness and suceeed in 
amassing wealth. Money as all they need. They 
would do the rest. 

The most astonishing thing about these young men 
is their unbounded confidence in their ability to sue- 



2*8 A Message for You. 

ee&d. If only some'body would appreciate them and 
die and leave them a fortune. 

LACK OF SENSE. 

Deluded youths ! Their confidence proclaims their 
ignorance and self-conceit, >both of which stand 
Ibetween them and success. 'Their need is not mon- 
ey or a rich friend, but sense, self-control and man- 
hood — the determ'ination to help themselves. 

There are advantages which poor boys have, if 
they are not too poor, and if their parents are intel- 
ligent and honest and govern well their households. 

THE SILVER SPOON. 

They are not likely to be pampered. Their wishes 
are not anticipated. They have no luxuries to make 
them less healthful, or appreciative of common pleas- 
ures. Their indulgences need not make them im- 
pudent or disobedient. 

It is sometimes thought that if the sons of the 
rich do not 'become vicious the evil of riches in their 
<3ase has been averted. But sons of the rich often 
suffer from effeminacy which makes them easy prey 
in the hands of strong competitors. 

You work hard. You make sacrifices. This seems 
hard. The sons of the rich do not, 'but if they miss 
the work they fail of the discipline that comes from 
work. Hard work is good, it don't hurt, it will 
make you. It is your school — the school of expe- 
rience. It wdll teach you self-eontrol. You will 
learn lessons in the school of industry that you can- 



A Message for You. 89 

not learn elsewhere, and lessons you will not forget. 
Every day's work ds t'he best school. Earning a liv- 
ing is a poor boy's university. And it is of more 
value than a university education without knowing 
how, or being willing to work. Take work rightly. 
If you do not like it take it as you take medicine. 

NATURALLY LAZY. 

The poor boy, in a respectable home, is forced to 
•work. This he thinks is hard 'but it is his salvation. 
Life is so urgent that we cannot succeed without in- 
dustry. The savages are lazy and civilized men do 
not like work. Idleness is native to us. Industry 
must be cultivated. Naturally inert, we need the 
pressure of necessity to develop in us traits which 
win success and happiness. 

ONLY FIFTY. 

It will be an encouragement to poor boys to read 
the following by a writer in the ''Juvenile Court 
Eecord": 

' ' I have on my desk a list of one thousand success- 
ful men of this nation. By 'successful' I do not 
mean mere money-makers, but men w^ho have given 
us new conceptions of steam, electricity, construction 
work, education, art, etc. These are the men who 
influence our moral as well as physical lives. They 
construct for 'better things. 

"How these men started in work is interesting. 
Their first foothold in work is a fine study. 

"Three hundred started as farmers' sons. 



30 A Message for Yon. 

*'Two hundred started as messenger boys. 

**Two hundred 'were newstboys. 

**One hundred were printers' apprentices. 

"One hundred were apprenticed in manufactories. 

"Fifty began at the bottom of railway work. 

*' Fifty — only fifty — 'had wealthy parents to give 
them a start. ' ' 

The percentage of rich men's sons who were in the 
list of success is not large. The poor boys who had 
to 'work were the final winners. Their poverty was 
not in their way. It served as a spur. It was an 
incentive. It was really an opportunity. 

On the other hand the money and the luxurious 
surroundings that the sons of rich men had did not 
help hut hindered them. It was a handicap. It 
weakened their fibre, made them less resolute, less 
manly and less independent; taught them idleness 
rather than industry. And be it forever known that 
no man can succeed without work. Work, regular^ 
earnest well directed woi^k is the price of true suc- 
cess. 

The rich mian's son has my sympathy. I believe 
that an increasing number of rich men are awake to 
the danger of riches to their children. They are 
training them in industry, economy, obedience, 
self-control, and deference to their superiors. 
And this is the hope of their future lives. Their 
danger is sloth, insolence and intemperance. 
Why should they work, who have everything, whose 
money can command servants and every luxury? 



A Message for You, 31 

The laziness that is native to us all is pampered in 
them Iby the excess which they inherit. 'Their bless- 
ing is their curse. 

Work then is a hlessing in disguise. * ' Thank God 
every morning that you have something to do which 
must he done whether you like it or not. B^ing 
forced to work to do your 'best, will breed in you 
temperance, self-control, diligence, strengh of will, 
-content and a hundred virtues w^hich the idle will 
never know. '^ 

The following verses utter a truth that needs em- 
phasis, which, aside from an apparent prejudice 
which runs through them, are to be highly com- 
mended : 

"The rich man's son inherits lands, 

And piles of brick and stone and gold, 

And he inherits soft white hands, 
And tender flesh that fears the cold, 
Nor dare he wear a garment old: 
A heritage, it seems to me. 
One scarce would wish to hold in fee." 

*'The rich man's son inherits cares; 
The bank may break, the factory 'burn, 

A breath may burst his bubble share ; 
Then soft white hands could hardly earn 
A living that would serve his turn." 

*'"What doth the poor man's son inherit? 



32 A Message for You. 

Stout muscles, and 'a sinewy heart. 
A Ihardy frame, a hardier spirit ! 
King of t'wo hands, he does his part 
In every useful field and art: 
A heritage, it seems to me — 
A king might wish to hold in fee." 



A Message for You. 33 

CHAPTER V. 

TO MEiN OF FIFTY. 

"Let him that thiiiketh he standeth take heed lest he 
fall." —Paul. 

We expect men of middle life to 'be for strength, 
like the rock Gibraltar. They stand before ns as 
mighty oaks of the forest. 

Having passed the slippery paths of youth and the 
s'appy period of manhood, they have been tested and 
stand in the power of mature life. 

Bulwarks in the professions and business world, 
they are a determining factor in politics and litera- 
ture. They set the pace for society. We expect 
strength in men of fifty. Strength without the 
foolishness of inexperience 'or the 'uncertainty of 
dota;ge. 

THE TEST OF MIDDLE LIFE. 

But a strange spectacle often presents itself. Men 
who should be at their best, losing out in business, 
not keeping up with the swift moving procession of 
politics, or failing in health. 

''Well, I have made barrels of money. My life 
has been a busy one. Since n boy I have been a hus- 
tler. I am now fifty-one years old, and for the last 
three years I have fallen back in business. I have 
not even made expenses. 

^'I don't know why. No one wants to go my secu- 



34 A Message for You. 

r^ity, or cares to help me. I scarcely tnow what to 
do. I am honest, have had experience, and am not 
afraid to work. Now how do you aceount for this 
situation ? ' ' 

'Thus ispo'ke a man of middle life to a stranger, 
who had stepped into his office on husiness of his 
own. He spoke as one who soliloquized. 

''Well," isaid the stranger, ''I see that you are 
writing a letter. Are you writing for yourself or 
some one else ? " 

"For myself, of course." 

^*And I," said the stranger, "have called on you 
for my own business." I notice that we are all tak- 
ing care of ourselves. Men are husy doing this. 
They have little time to look after others. You and 
I, too, are husy. We have little time to carry other 
people 's concerns. ' ' 

MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS. 

"People who might interest themselves in us are 
struggling with their own problems. We presume 
that they have money and leisure, TDut they are press- 
ed for both. Our richest men need money the most. 
They have so many demands upon their money that 
they are generally 'hard up.' We wonder that they 
do not interest themselves in us, but their hands and 
brains are busy, and their time so involved that they 
do not know what to do.. Frequently men whom 
society envies, because of their wealth and position, 
•go down under their burdens. Perhaps they wonder 



A Message for You. 35 

that no one cares for them. Frequently sucli men 
say that their money is all men care for. 

''Then, too, men of our age, have prohlems that 
do not belong to younger men. The man of twenty 
looks at life with one pair of eyes and the man of 
middle life sees it with other eyes, at least from an- 
other point of view. 

"Men whose health has failed because of too much 
confinement, lac'k of exercise, or pressure upon one 
side of their natures, have changed their business and 
mode of life. They have learned to make a living at 
a new business, and recast the habits of their lives. 
This test is of no small proportion." 

Ministers whose nerves give way under the con- 
stant strain of preaching and pastoral wor'k, peddle 
books, raise chickens, ot potter around, doing rough 
jobs with hammer, or saw, or spade. Taking the 
place of a boy, or an underling, or doing work that 
requires very average ability. 

These men tell us that the situation is difficult. 
They are not the equals of trained bankers, mer- 
chants or tradesmen, in the fields which they have 
adopted later in life from necessity. 

HIS MAXI-IOOD TESTED. 

The question is how will they meet the test of mid- 
dle life ? How will they accept the situation with its 
embarrassments of poverty and ill health, certainly 
of inability to cope with men made strong by a gen- 
eration of experience? 



36 A Message for You. 

Will ithey play the man and meet life with brave 
hearts? Will they master themselves and sing a 
song of hope, or wail a dirge of lament ? 

Snch conditions confront many a man 'between the 
ages of forty-five and sixty years. How he will do 
depends on the man he is, perhaps on his wife also. 
Blessed is the man who at such a time has a wife 
who is a true helpmeet to him. 

He will need to take himself in hand. The prob- 
lems of young manhood are easily solved compared 
with those he now meets. Every faculty will be 
tested. He will be tested at the point of pride. He 
may Ibe reduced to very humtole work, and tempted 
to discouragement. If his life has been sedentary he 
will incline to physical laziness. If he has been used 
to physical wor^k he will not easily change to mental 
toil. And he does not wield the power among men 
that he once did. His money earning power is re- 
duced. 

BE SOUND. 

In every way he will be tried. As the editor of 
' 'Success " says of the young iman, he will need to be 
sound. He may be brilliant, but he must be sound. 
He may be learned, but he needs more than scholarly 
attainments, to be sound. He may be weak in 'body 
but if he is to retain poise he must be sound. His 
soundness of judgment and life, his perfect sanity 
and ^balance of character are his hope. Paul's words 
may be applied here, ''Be sound in faith, in charity, 
in patience." 



A Message for You, 37 

The bishop saw a danger confronting this period 
when he said, "I am often urged 'by the older men 
to talk to young men entering the conference. 

^*We cannot be too careful," they say, ''whom we 
admit into our ranks." 

THE bishop's burden. 

**But," said the bishop, "I am more concerned 
about men fifty years of age. They are the 
burden on my mind. I know preachers who haven't 
bought a book for ten years. You have but to look 
through their libraries to pity their poor congrega- 
tions. Preaching their old sermons, they have ceased 
to grow. The poverty of their mental resources is 
apparent to every intelligent listener. ' ' 

"Slouchy in manners, untidy in personal ap- 
pearance, wearing unpresentable linen and un- 
blackened shoes, they bear the general marks of a 
back number. They complain that they are not ap- 
preciated. Their age, and experience, and long ser- 
vice of the church is rewarded with appointments to 
"hard scrabble circuits." 

The bishop grew eloquent as he urged that the 
preacher at fifty should be at his best, at sixty in- 
creasing in might, at seventy a power for G^od among 
men, and at eighty, well nigfh irresistible. 

THE GOOD OLD WAY. 

Sometimes as the years have gone the man has 
slowed up a little in his pace and lost out in latest 
methods, and wakes up to find a generation of young- 



38 A Message for You. 

er men, whom he knows not, but with whoin he must 
compete, with the reigns of husiness in hand. 

They come on the scene with the freshness and en- 
ergy of young manhood. Well educated, they have 
the latest inventions and methods of every 'kind. 
They Ibristle with life. They think and work in 
terms of today. 

The man of fifty may be meeting the new condi- 
tions with the clumsy equipment of yesterday. And he 
wakes up, one fine morning, to find that he is not 
only (behind the times, but behind in his bank ac- 
count, and in the hands of the receiver. 

FORGET THE PAST. PRESS FORWARD. 

He -will likely step down upon a lower rung of the 
ladder. He will do simpler work, perhaps learn 
somethin'g new, and compete with younger, cruder 
woo^kers. He m*ay never regain his former place. 
His pride and his family's pride will array them- 
selves, and every untamed faculty and instinct in 
him will Ibe to hold in check. He will seem to be out 
of joint with things. What will he do? He faces 
new conditions, and must meet life anew. It de- 
pends upon himself how he will meet the issue. 

KINGLY SELF-CON'TROL. 

If he has a harder question to meet than he had as 
a young man, he has also some things to meet his 
harder problems with than the young man has. He 
should have stored away wisdom, and habits of in- 
dustry, and courage. The hard school of experience 



A Message for You. 39 

has taug^ht him many lessons. The foolishness of 
youth should he well ruhhed out lo'f him. His very 
mistakes have been schoolmasters. 

GROW NEW WOOD, OR DIE. 

It does not follow if he fails to retrieve his fortune 
that he is a total failure. GHe may not do that and 
be a success in the best things of life. Money or its 
ladk is but an incident. But the thing worth while 
is, will he take himself in hand? Will he conquer 
himself? Will he keep courage to the front? Will 
he meet the situation the best that it can be met by 
a man with his powers and in his condition ? 

iMen w'ho have foung'ht bravely for a generation 
frequently go down under the stress at this period. 
If the tests of middle life are truly met a man may 
hope to enter upon the next period, the youth of old 
age, with a spirit of cheer and hope that will augur 
mTich for 'a long, useful and happy life. 



40 A Message for You. 

CKAPTBR VI. 
IDEALS OIF MA^^BOiOD. 

"Too low they build who build beneath the stars." 

— Young. 

A young man sitting in the office of a 'business 
man, who was absent, was puffing a cigar, which he 
held between his fingers. 

'His feet stretched on the top of a table, he seemed 
to measure the distance on the opposite side of the 
office as he craned his neck an'd ''spurted" tobacco 
juice to reach, if possible, that distant cesspool of 
nicotine. 

In this position he said, with a laugh, "I'm the 
agent today. I 'm occupying the chair and doing the 
business, I want you to understand." 

His laugh, returned by the other young men in the 
office, seemed to say, ' ' It takes more than a cigar in 
tthe mouth and vigorous spitting with feet elevated 
'on the table to constitute a man 'able to discharge 
the duties of a responsible trust." 

But this is a picture of many a boy's ideal of man- 
hiood. 

FOOT BALL AND BROKEN BONES. 

The young man on the football team who repre- 
sente'd the university in many states, said to a neigh- 
bor, who is an older and wiser man, "I've gotten my 



A Message for You. 41. 

nose broken three times in the game. See my hand? 
In the play over in Illinois last week it was stepped 
on three times and mashed. I got one of my ribs 
(broken too, and it's sore now!'' And the young 
man was far from jubilant. He even looked disap- 
pointed. 

His friend with gentle sarcasm in his voice, said : 
"But it is in a good cause, isn't it? Don't let little 
things like that daunt your courage. Things that 
are worth while may cost a broken rib which may 
affect you through life, or a broken nose which may 
result in cancer. But are they not worth all they 
cost? Cheer up! Be brave. Keep smiling." 

"But so'berly, John, do you think it is an in- 
vestment that is worth while ? 

**Is the game worth what it costs in broken bones 
and bruised flesh, in loss of time and energy fron 
your college work? Could you not spend the time 
and strength in a way that would better compensate 
you for the investment in your education?" 

WALKING FIGHTING ^FASTING. 

A Mr. "Weston just now proposes to walk from 
B'oston to the Pacific coast in sixty days. Suppose 
the old gentleman does not break his health, but suc- 
ceeds in his exploit, a yellow dog could beat his best 
recorded time. 

Another boasts that he can fast forty days. Well, 
there are animals that hibernate for months and do 
mot boast of doing anything smart. 



42 A Message for You. 

When the writer was a 'boy John C. Heanon was 
a great fighter. (Later, iSullivan fought everybody 
who'm he thonght worthy <oi his muscle. And these 
athletes have brought on a host of imitators among 
the boys of the land. But what of their exploits? 

The tiger, the bull-dog, or the wild eat excel them 
without strutting or boasting. 

The little fish in the sea can out swim the greatest 
swimmer. The eagle or the lark has never been 
known to fall out of the air from sheer awkwardness, 
or because of machinery too cunibersome, or not 
properly adjusted. 

Men boast that they can drnnk more beer, or eat 
more oysters than another, tout they never seem to 
think that a pig at the trough can swill more than 
they. 

The pig may even be less particular than the beer 
guzzler and the glutton as to the quality. He does 
not pretend to do anything but root and grunt. 

Are these worthy ideals for an immortal spirit? 
Will they satisfy man forme'd in the image of his 
Creator? Can man with his Ood-like powers come 
down to the level of the mere animal without self- 
degradation? The descent is too igreat. ''He aims 
too low who aims beneath the skies. '* 

When attention is given to iphysical over intel- 
lectual development it marks the barbaric stage of 
progress. 

When the intellectual is stressed above the spirit- 
ual it marks a lower life. 



A Message for You. 43 

WEALTH AS A GOAL. 

This ''money mad age" stresses wealth. Money is 
our god. We worship the golden calf. We give 
health and character for wealth and position and 
power and find out in the end that we are poor and 
destitute and naked. 

CHARACTER IS GOLD EVERYWHERE. 

Without character we are poor, though worth 
millions. Character is the end of life. It is the 
crown of every effort. Without it all else is loss, 
hut with it there can be no real failure. It is the 
''pearl of great price." It is the pure gold that 
cannot be destroyed by fire. It is of value every- 
where in this world and the next. It does not have 
value because men stamp it. Its value is intrinsic. 
It is worth as much marked or unmarked. It is like 
'God, eternal and everywhere. Character is the gold 
of heaven and the real currency of earth, though 
often misunderstood and overlooked. 



44 A Message for You. 

OHAiPTBR VII. 
PEOiPAOTTY. 

"What does Satan pay you for swearing?" asked one 
gentleman of another. "He don't pay me anything," was 
the reply. "Well, you work cheap. You certainly do 
work cheap, very cheap indeed." 

** Because he is charged with using profane lan- 
guage John Blank was arrested last night." 

This notice in a city daily points in the right di- 
rection. Taking the name of the Lord in vain is 
prevalent. You scarcely meet a company of men on 
street 'corner, in country place or at wor<k anywhere 
'but their conversation is interspersed with oaths. 
The practice fills the air. Your ears are offended 
Tby (boys in their play swearing, 'as well as using other 
vile language. 

BOYS IMITATE MEN". 

I am aware that much of this is the result of care- 
lessness. It may come hy imitation. Boys would 
be men and so imitate their elders in the things that 
are showy and require no outlay of talent or self- 
denial of theiir lower natures. Vice is more showy 
than virtue. 

It may indicate want of thought and go with 
general dissoluteness of manners and morals. 

The man who swears may be adjudged careless in 
other ways. A want of discipline goes through 



A Message for You. 45 

'his moral nature. It is a sign ibeto'kening evil and 
says to the beholder Beware! 

It is an ungentlemanly habit, from which men usu- 
ally refrain in the presence of ladies. A young man 
does not like his mother or sweetheart to hear him 
go off like a volcano in action. Neither does he, in 
a cool, calculating way, offend sensitive cars and 
pure hearts. 

It indicates untrained powers. When a man flies 
into a passion his intellectual machinery is running 
wild. "Anger is temporary insanity." 

One who uses profane language when not angry 
presents the appearance of a garden over-grown with 
weeds. 'He is like a team of horses without a driver. 
Satan tempts other men 'but the profane swearer 
seems to dare Satan himself. 

OATHS PRINTED. 

What an example to place before the young. 

How would one feel to see his oaths printed, as he 
uttered them, with his name signed to them? A man 
falls in self-respect every time he vilifies the name of 
God. This is instinctive. He decreases by every 
wreck of words and passion in manhood and virtue. 
Every such act makes him a lower man, a more de- 
generate man. 

WILL BREAK FAITH. 

We naturally discount a man who takes the name 
of God in vain. We turn from him as lacking 
"taste, character and breeding." I would not place 



46 A Message for You. 

in an important position of trust a young man who 
is an habitual swearer. The habit might indicate 
looseness of principle that would render him un- 
trustworthy. He who is faithless toward God is 
faithless toward men, when it suits his convenience. 

HOW UNEEASONABLE. 

How unreasonable is this sin ! God is our Creator. 
In him we live, move and have our being. He is our 
Father, as he is the natural Father of all the living. 
*' Every good and perfect gift cometh down from the 
Father of light in whom is neither variableness nor 
shadow of turning." We cannot do 'a good thing 
nor think la good thought without Him. 

How senseless to curse the name of our Creator 
and Preserver. What madness to call His wrath and 
oondemnation upon our heads. What can it mean? 
Does the swearer or he w'hom he curses receive any 
goo d ? 

AN" UN'GRATEFUL HABIT. 

The ungrateful habit is lacking every instinct 
of kindness and love. (Suppose a child should curse 
the mother, who gave him 'birth, or the father who 
I>rotects his tender years and is the guide of his 
youth. We would say such n child is unworthy of 
his parents, lacking in natural affection. 

Suppose a beggar, who had ibeen housed, clothed 
and fed should turn upon his benefactor with oaths 
and cursing? We would say the wretch is mean 



A Message for You. 47 

and unworthy. His conduct would indicate that he 
was insane or an ingrate. 

No reason can 'be given by anyone, old or young, 
in any condition of life for defaming the name of 
God that will stand the test of reason or the fires of 
the judgment day. 

SAM JONES. 

Borne will say that they have formed the habit of 
swearing, that they are very sorry and have tried to 
stop it but can not. This reminds me of a story. 
The late Sam Jones in his early ministry had 'a mem- 
ber who was given to swearing. Mr. Jones expostu- 
lated with him, but the member excused himself on 
the ground that he had tried but could not help 
swearing. 

can't help it. 

*''0h well," said Mr. Jones, ''don't trouble your- 
self about it, brother. You are not responsible. God 
will not hold you accountable and will not punish 
you for that which you cannot prevent." 

^'But," s'aid the member, with considerable embar- 
rassment, * ' I-am-af raid-that-I-can-help-it. ' ' 

*'Ah," replied this master in Israel, "that is a dif- 
ferent question. Now, sir, you are responsible for 
defaming the name of God and He will hold you to 
strict 'account and will send you to hell for willfully 
sinning against Him." 

The story goes that the man became aroused to 
the enormity of his sin and repented, hringing forth 
fruit meet for repentance. 



48 A Message for You. 

Brother man, there is a law that "such as ye sow 
that shall ye also reap." And the fearful question 
is, what shall the harvest he of all this wild reckless 
sowing? The swearer ds sowing "the wind and shall 
reap the whirlwind. ' ' 

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy 
Ood in vain ; for ithe Lord will not hold him guiltless 
who taketh his name in vain. ' ' Ex. 20-7. 



A Message for You. 49 



OHAPTEK VIII. 



COURAG^E IiX EVEEY DAY LIFE. 

"Do thy Duty; it is best, 
And leave unto the Lord the rest." 

Let us do our duty in our shop or our kitchen, the mark- 
et, the office, the school, the home, just as faithfully as 
if we stood in the front ranks of some great battle, and 
we knew that victory for mankind depended on our brav- 
ery, strength and skill. When we do that the humblest of 
us will be serving in the greatest army of the world. 

— Theodore Parker. 

The realm of every day life presents examples of 
courag'e so common that they scarcely illicit notice. 
The courage is real, too, as that displayed in mo- 
ments of crisis on battle field. What is more, cour- 
age in daily life is usually ahove question as to its 
moral purpose. 

''Think of the army of mothers of children of 
school age and younger who must leave their homes 
and sleeping children every morning. Washerwom- 
en, scrub women, factory workers, office workers, 
offiee eleaners, women in the stores and waitresses ; 
thousands of them must work all day in ignorance 
of what their children are doing.'' 

WHAT ARE THE CHILDREN DOING. 

To meet these conditions requires eourage. What 
are the ^children doin^ while the mother is absent? 



50 A Message for You. 

Will they get their breakfast all right and get to 
school? Will they get hurt? What about their ten- 
ement house associates? How anxious must the 
mother be till she gets home at night, and sees them 
lall safe; how full of dre-ad and fear lest evil might 
befall her precious flock. 

One mother who was absent from her 'chiidren at 
wor'k from 12 till 9 'o'clock, said, "until I turn that 
corner at nine and see a light in the window, until I 
look into their faces and see the innocence of child- 
hood sitill there, I live in hell." 

SAFETY OF WORKMEN". 

According to statistics, of every 1,000 coal miners 
in the United States during 1906 over three were 
killed and more than six were seriously injured in 
'accidents at 'Coal mines. Every 190,353 tons of coal 
mined in this country during that year cost one life. 

On the general subject of the safety of working- 
men. Dr. Josiah Strong, president of the institute for 
Social Service, has said: ''Pew appreciate the fact 
that in a given time, our American workingmen are 
suffering more casualities than two great armies 
could inflict on each other equipped with perfect 
weapons of death, and making slaughter their ex- 
press business. Indeed, the casualties of our indus- 
trial army would supply with victims a domestic con- 
flict equal to our civil war, and at the same time a 
foreign conflict equal to the late war 'between Rus- 
sia and Japan. If we were waging two such wars 



A Message for You. 51 

perpetually, and there were little or n'o pufblic opin- 
ion demanding that they ibe 'brought to an end, could 
we really call ourselves a civilized people?" 

Men think seriously and bravely before facing 
toils and dangers of mines, quarries, railroads and 
factories. 

''the dinner bucket brigade/'' 

An army of men with dinner buckets on their 
arms speaks of self-denial and manhood often of 
high order. They rise early, breakfasit and often 
travel miles to be ready for work by 7 o'clock. This 
is repeated every working day in the year, and year 
after year. Often the struggle is with feeble health, 
inadequate wages and hard and disagreea'ble labor. 

Back of the working man is the noble wife, who 
shares the sacrifices incident to his life of toil. Her 
part of caring for the children, doing house work and 
managing the week's wages to meet many demands 
and keep out of debt tests and develops the noblest 
traits of 'human character. 

A newspaper dipping reports that 27,000 women in 
New York support their husbands. There may be a 
tinge of sarcasm in the clipping but to the extent 
that it is true, it represents what is often seen in 
real life ; women supporting drunken, invalid, in- 
competent or defective husbands. They are true to 
their vows, "for "better or for worse." 



A DOCTORS CARES. 

A doctor supports his invalid sister, paying all 



52 A Message for You. 

bills. This charge, added to his family cares, he 
felt, 'was his full part of life's Iburden. But when 
his wife's limb was broken and amputation became 
necessary, he felt that he had more than his share 
of trouble. 

But he said, "It will never do for me to go into 
sick rooms carrying marks of sorrow in my own life. 
My limitations are great, but I must not yield to dis- 
•eouragement. Others have troubles. I am not worse 
off, and, indeed, not so badly situated as many. I 
must do my part icheerfully. I will Ibe strong." 

THE BRAVE WIFE. 

His wife is not less brave. With Christian forti- 
tude, she stands uncomplainingly by his side. They 
are an illustration of multitudes, whom no man can 
num'ber, in all walks of life, who are standing true 
to the work of life, meeting its 'burdens land afflic- 
tions with unfaltering trust. 

The lines iby Emil Carl Aurin, in National Maga- 
zine, ion "Every day Heroes," are true to life : 

They ride in the cab of the engine 
As the train speeds through the night, 

With the lives of scores depending 
On' their reading the isignals right. 

They stand at the helm of the vessel. 
As she tosses and rolls in the gale; 



A Message for You. 53 

Or cling to the storm-swept rigging 
To furl the beating sail. 

They work on the great tall buildings, 

That tower far up toward the sky, 
Or down in the mine 's dark level 

Where death is always nigh. 

With death in a hundred guises, 

They battle eaoh day in the year, 
Without the notes of a bugle 

Or drum to give them cheer. 

No flag have they to lead them ; 

N'o glory to spur them when 
They stand face to face with danger 

But they stick to their posts like MEN. 



54 A Message for You. 

OHjAPTEH IX. 
A PLiElA FOR THE OHIODDREiN. 

"Our prayer should be 
For a sound mind and a sound body." 

— Journal. 

I am aggrieved, fbut my 'burden is that 'of the school 
children. They are overworked. They are in a 
race. The excellent motto, ''Excelsior," is over- 
done. They are to do their best today, 'but a little 
better tomorrow. Their young lives are too "stren- 
uous." Enough can not 'be done during school 
hours, and the children often take armsful of hooks 
home for ''night work," like little book-keepers, 
clerks and professional men and women. 

But the cihildren enjoy it. In a pastorate of twen- 
ty-five years I find them interested in studies and 
teachers. They talk school and grades and promo- 
tion. In the procession they forge on. 

EXCELSIOR. 

If evil is wrought upon their delicate constitutions 
the blame is not to be charged wholly to the teacher, 
though they are directly connected with the children. 
The teachers are part of a great system, with work 
to accomplish in a stipulated time which they may 
not fail of doing without icensure and possible loss of 
position. 



A Message for You. 55 

AMBITION. 

In Ms necessity and ambition the teacTier seems 
to forget that the pupil is more than a little machine 
to grind out grades and make a good showing for 
■teacher and school. At least, the teacher views the 
pupil largely from this point. 

The powers above bear on the teachers, w^ho bring 
pressure upon the children. Girls thirteen to eigh- 
teen years old, with headaches and other sickness in 
that delicate period, ambitious to keep up with, or 
lead their classes, are a pitiable sight. 

NERVOUS DISORDEES. 

Delicate young fellows without color in their 
cheeks, are a sad sight when one thinks of the strain 
of life that will soon demand the best physical health 
and strength. 

Statistics show an increase of 'brain and nervous 
disorders. Allow for ex'cessive drinking, the use 
of tobacco and other narcotics, and the strain of our 
complex life, one is free to admit that the pressure 
brought to hear upon the delicate brains and nerves 
of 'the young increase the evil. 

Many intelligent physicians say that too much is 
required of children, and parents often fear that the 
children are taxed beyond their ability. 

A BUSY AGE. 

The writer appreciates the difficult and delicate 
work of the teacher. As a class they are choice 



50 A Message for you. 

people. They are often overworked as well as the 
pupils. 

He queries whether edueatioaial leaders eould 
grade "the work of schools so as to taike a little of the 
pressure from innocent young people. It is asking 
much of this busy, restless age of trained leaders and 
captains among m^en to do w^hat would make their 
worik seem to move slower. But he asks it in the in- 
terest of the Ibetter health of the children and the 
coming men and women. 

I copy a few of the bitter wails of parents as they 
have suffered the awful loss that had come to their 
homes through the cramming process of our modern 
educational system, from ''The Ladies Home Jour- 
nal": 

' ' We pushed her, and iGod knows how we suffered 
for our mistake." 

"She graduated, but she never recovered, and in 
two years we had no daughter. ' ' 

"I thoug^ht 'more of a diploma than I did of my 
child. Now, I have only the diploma." 

"Promotion! Promotion! was our cry. Then our 
little girl was promoted^ — but not in the way we 
hoped. ' ' 

"We placed an education above health, and the 
life of a promising hoy of eighteen is the price we 
paid for our mistake." 

' ' It was music and painting added to a tired brain. 
Now our house is still — a monument to our thought- 
lessness. ' * 



A Message for You. 57 

"What would not my husband and I give of our 
means today if we could undo the past and 'bring 
'back our only child ! That is the hardest part to 
bear — ^the feeling of what we might have done. From 
the housetops w« would cry out to parents to take 
care!'* 

Prof. John M. Tyler of the chair of biology in Am- 
herst College has pronounced convictions upon the 
crowding of children in their school work. What he 
says will be a revelation to many. If we think that 
he is an extremist it will possibly show that we have 
gone to the other extreme in pushing the mental de- 
velopment of little children at the expense of phys- 
ical growth and well being^ and possibly of life itself. 
He says : 

A SOUND BODY. 

**The 'all-work-and-no-play' theory of education is 
antiquated, out of date, and not only worthless, but 
positively harmful to children. For children in the 
primary grades, that is, children 'between six and ten 
years of age, thirty minutes a day should be the max- 
imum amount of time given to study — fifteen min- 
utes in the morning and the same amount in the af- 
ternoon. The rest of the time should be spent on the 
playground. The only business a young child has in 
life is to grow. If a child is growing, no matter how 
he looks or what he knows, I say that child is doing 
well. Whether a .child passes or fails in such and 
such an examination is a matter of little conse- 
quence, but if the child can not pass nature's exam- 



5'8 A Message for You. 

ination then there is a very grave isituation. The 
public 'Schools are not sending to the 'colleges stu- 
dents wh'o can think properly. I believe this is the 
result of early forcing. When after a few minutes 
he fbecomes tired studious v^ork is piled upon a child, 
and he dawdles over his 'books. Thus he contracts a 
'bad habit. We must inquire after 'the health of our 
school children. If we do not heed their health, then 
our legislatures, a generation hence, may ask us what 
we have been doing with these children. If the 
physical 'body is to be powerful, then it must have 
a 'chance to grow. That is the business of every 
child — ^to grow, and nothing else. But are our school 
children getting the chance to grow — those between 
six and ten years 'old? And if they are not, then we 
should ask ourselves why. My own solution would 
be to place more emphasis on play and less on the 
book and desk." 

PLAY IS AN EDUCATOR. 

"Also, I would house the children in light, airy, san- 
itary school buildings. It is a sin to attempt to keep 
c'hildren still. In prescribing mental work we should 
not ask what the child can stand, ibut what is the 
maximum am'ount that is good for him. I believe 
that thirty minuftes a day spent in conversation with 
a 'bright young teacher is enough. Of home study 
ten minutes a day is probably long enough. Other- 
wise the children will dawdle 'over their books. The 
playground is the bes't teacher. There the 'child 



A Message for You. 59 

learns alertness, fairness, resolution, and how to 
make friends. What subject in school ean teach a 
child as much in an hour as he can learn in that time 
at play? Play is the natural and wise form of edu- 
cation at this stage. It enlarges the muscles and 
lungs, strengthens the heart, develops a steady, 
tough, and resistant nervous system, and estaJblishes 
health. Health, tough muscles, and steady nerves 
are the foundations of courage. 

A fine spirit of sarcasm runs through the follow- 
ing verses, but they show the trend of our school life 
^-hich parents and teachers would do well to heed : 

' ' Ram it in, cram it in. 

Children's heads are hoHow; 
Slam it in, jam it in. 

Still there's more to follow — 
Hygiene and history, 
Astronomic mystery, 
Algebra, histology, 
Latin, etymology. 

Botany, geometry, 
Greek and trigonometry — 
Ram it in, cram it in. 

Children's heads are hollow." 

''Rap it in, tap it in. 

What are teachers paid for? 
Bang it in, slam it in, 

What are children made forf 



60 A Message for You. 

Anoient archaeoloigy, 
Aryan, philology, 
Prosody, zoology, 
Physics, clinietology. 
Calculus and mathematics, 
Ehetoric and hydrositatics — 
Hoax it in, coax it in, 

Children's heads are hollow.'* 

**Eujb it in, club it in. 
All there is 'of learning ; 

Punch it in, crunch it in, 

Quench their childisih yearniag 
For the field and grassy nook. 
Meadow green and rippling broo^k, 
Drive such wicked thoughts afar, 
Teach the children that they are 
But machines to cram it in, 
Bang it in, slam it in — 

That their heads are hollow. ' ' 

''Scold it in, mold it in. 

All thajt they can swallow; 
Fold it in, hold it in. 

Still there's more to follow. 
Faces pinched, sad and pale. 
Tell the same undying tale — 
Tell of moments robbed from sleep. 
Meals untasted, studies deep, 



A Message for You. 61 

Those wlioVe passed the fiinia<3e 

through, 
With aching 'brow will tell yiou 
How the teacher crammed it in, 
Rammed it in, jammed it in, 
'Crunched it in, punched it in, 
Eubbed it in, clubtbed it in. 
Pressed it in, caressed it in, 
Rapped it in and slapped it in. 
When their heads were hollow/' 



62 A Message for You. 

CHAPTER X. 

HJOiNlOiR THY HATHEE AiND MiOTHER. 

"Bring back my trunk. I am not going to make my 
mother suffer so by my leaving her." 

— George Washington (when sixteen years old). 

A past igeneration treated ehildreii rigorously. 
Puritan ideas were sometimes carried too far. But 
the pendulum has swung to the other extreme. Lax- 
ity of family government prevails. Everything is 
made easy for children. The sugar coated pill indi- 
cates treatment of children at home, iSunday and day 
ischo'ol. 

Lack of 'reverence for age prevails. A high school 
principal said that he had hut one gentleman in his 
school. 

THE OLD MAN. 

Children ispeak of their father as "the old man," 
land mother as "the old woman." Parents are dis- 
carded 'as ''old fogy" hecause they may not be styl- 
ish in dress or up-to-date in manners. Their gram- 
mar, for want of early opportunities, may be at 
fault, 'but however inaccurate their language it is 
prefera'ble to the slang in common use among the 
young of this generation. Often those who give their 
lives for their children lare cast aside, in old age, as 
hack numlbers and as cumber ers of the ground. 



A Message for You. 63 

BOTH FATHER AND MOTHER. 

The Scripture command is, ''Honor tliy father and 
mother, that thy days may be long upon the land 
which the Lord thy God igiveth thee." The com- 
mand is so important as to be placed among the "ten 
words" of the law. It is applicable to all genera- 
tions and all climes. 

The duty of parents is to train their children in 
the ' ' ' nurture and admonition of the Lord, ' ' to care 
for them in body, soul and mind, »o that they m^ay 
^become no'ble. Christian characters. 

iChildren in return are to honor their parents. 
This includes reverence, obedience, love, and all that 
lattitude of spirit which will enable parents to best 
train them in holy character, teach them to make an 
(honorable living, and in the highest way serve God 
and their generation. 

Children are to honor their parents, not parents 
their children. Their mature years and experience 
and instinctive love for their children enable parents 
to protect and train and care for the young in 
their helpless, ignorant and inexperienced condition. 
The Bible provides for this in the establishment of 
the family. The purpose of which is to raise ''a 
godly seed. ' ' 

The command ''Honor thy father and thy mother 
is the only one with a promise; "that thy days may 
'be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth 
thee." 



64 A Message for You. 

LONG LIFE PROMISED. 

This is 'literally true. Ohildren who honor their 
parents in all that duty implies usually enjoy better 
health, avoid many dangers, keep good company, 
form right habits, become trained for life's duties 
and taught to he true to Grod and man. These prin- 
(ciples, emhodied in practice, tend to better and 
longer life. 

The command includes the mother as well 'as the 
father in the child's esteem and affectionate obedi- 
ence. 

Among the heathen, woman occupies an inferior 
position. iShe is often treated as a beast of burden. 
Oiri haJbies are unwelcome burdens, often destroyed 
in infancy. Widows are brutally treated and their 
lives rendered miserable. 

CHRIST EXALTS WOMAN". 

But the religion of the Bible exalts woman to her 
rightful place as man's equal. If he is ''the head of 
the house she is the neck," that turns the head 
whithersoever she will. Because 'man, stronger and 
more selfish, would disregard her rights, the Divine 
Penman is careful to say "children you must cher- 
ish, love and o'bey, not only your father, hut your 
'mother, also." 

A large part of the care and training of the chil- 
dren falls upon the mother ; for this reason, also, she 
may be particularly mentioned, for how can she 
properly train the children if they 'do not respect and 

\iighly esteem her ? 

i 



A Message for You. 65 

'"'my wash woman/' 

D. L. Moody relates t'he 'circumstanee of a 
OMcag'O youth, Who was walking with a, compan- 
ion, when his mother called him. Is that woman 
your mother?" said his friend. "No," replied the 
youth, "she is my wash woman." As I remember, 
Mr. Moody said that he watched the career of the 
boy, who spoke contemptuously of his mother, and 
his life was not a success. He lacked reverence, 
truth and filial regard, without which a truly suc- 
cessful life is impossible. 

The late Theodore L. Cuyler has the following 
weighty utterance on this subject : 

"There is a touching story of the famous Dr. Sam- 
uel Johnston. Samuel's father, Michael Johnson, 
was a poor bookseller in Lichfield, England. On 
market days he used to icarry a package of books to 
the village of Uttoxeter, -and sell 'them from a stall 
in the market place. One day the bo-okseller was 
sick, and tasked his son to go and sell books in his 
place. Samuel, from silly pride, refused to obey. 

UNCOVERED HIS HEAD. 

"Fifty years afterward Johnson became the cel- 
ebrated author, the eompiler of the "English Dic- 
tionary" and one of the most distinguished scholars 
in Engiland ; but he never f argot his act of unkind- 
ness to his po'or, hard toiling father ; so when he vis- 
ited Uttoxeter he determined to show his sorrow and 
repentance. 



66 A Message for You. 

**'He w-ent into the marike't place at the time of 
tbusiness, uncovered his head, and stood 'there for an 
hour in the pouring rain, on the very spot where the 
'book istall used to stand. 'This,' he says, 'was an 
'act of contrition for my disobedience to my kind 
father.' " 

The spectacle of the great Dr. Johnson istanding 
bareheaded in the storm to atone for the wrong done 
by him fifty years fbe'fore, is a grand and touching 
(one. There is representation of it in marble on the 
doctor's monument. 

Many a mian in after life has felt isomething hard- 
er and heavier than a storm of rain beating upon his 
heart when he remembered his acts of unkindness to 
la good father or mother now in their graves. 

''^SPEAK THE TRUTH.''' 

Dr. John Todd, of Pittsfield, an eminent writer, 
never could forget how, when his old father was very 
isick, land sent him away for medicine, he, a little lad, 
had been unwililing to go and had made up a lie, that 
"the druggist had not any such medicine." 

The old man was just dying when little Johnny 
came, and said to him : ''My boy, your father suffers 
igreat pain for want of your medicine. ' ' 

Johnny started in great distress for the medicine, 
but it was too late. The father, on his return, was 
lalmiost gone. He could only say to the weeping boy : 
"Love iGod, and always speak the truth, for the eyes 
of Ood are always upon you. Now kiss me once 
more, and farewell. ' ' 



A Message for You. 67 

Througii all Ms after life, Dr. Todd often 'had a 
iheartac'lie over the act of disoibedience to his dying 
father. It takes more than a s-hower to wash away 
the memory of sins. Doctor Todd repented of that 
sin a thousand times. 

The words, ''Honor thy father and thy mother," 
mean four things — ^^always do what they bid yon ; al- 
ways tell them the truth; always treat them loving- 
ly; and take care of them when they are siek and 
grown old. I never yet knew a boy who trampled 
on the wishes of his parents w'ho turned out well. 
God never iblesses a wilfully diso'bedient son. 

''brin'g back my trunk."" 

When Washington was 16 years of age he deter- 
mined to leave home and be la midshipm'an in the 
Colonial navy. After he had sent off his trunk, he 
went to bid his mother good-by. She wept so 'bit- 
terly 'because he was going away that he said to his 
negro servant: ''Bring back my trunk; I am not go- 
ing to make my mother suffer so by leaving her. ' * 

He remained at home to please his mother. This 
decision led to his becoming a surveyor and after- 
words a soldier. His w'hole glorious eareer in life 
turned on that simple act of trying to make his moth- 
er happy. And happy, too, will be the child who 
(never has occasion to shed 'bitter tears for any act of 
unkindness to his parents. Let us not forget that 
'God has said: "Honor thy father and thy mother." 



68 A Message for You. 

CHAPTEK XI. 
WHAT TO DO WITH Ei^EMIEiS. 

"Abuse can be best paid by love." 

"Love and do as you please." 

— St. Augustine. 

Eneinks are in evidence everywhere. They grade 
all the way from those who would kill you, fire your 
house or wreck your reputation, to those who have 
only unkind criticism for you. But they are one mark 
lof our Father's favor. They are our inheritance. 
The promise is ''all they that will live godly shall 
suffer persecution. " ' ' The world will hate you. ' ' 

Our encimies must be met 'and disposed of in some 
way. The question is how? What are we to do 
with them? Shall we do them good or ill? Shall 
we he well or evil disposed toward them? Shall 
they he a blessing lor a curse to us? The answer to 
these questions is in our own hands. At the last 
analysis, no one ean injure us but ourselves. 

The first and great requirement is to love them. 
Every other duty grows out of love and is an ex- 
pression of ''the greatest thing in the world.'' No 
higher teaching of this strange doctrine can be found 
in lall literature than that of Jesus : "Ye have heard 
that it hath (been said, thou shalt love thy neighbor 
and hate t^hine enemy. 



A Message for You. 69 

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES. 

''But I say iiii'to you, Love your enemies; ibless 
them that curse you ; do good to them that hate you, 
and pray for them that despitefully use you, and per- 
secute you: 

''That ye may be the children of your Father 
which is in heaven ; for he maketh his sun to rise on 
the evil and on the good, land sendeth rain on tne 
just and on the unjust. 

"For if ye love them which love you, what reward 
have you? Do not even the puMicans the same? 

"And if ye salute your 'brethren only, what do ye 
more than others? Do not even the publicans so? 

"Be ye therefore perfect, (perfect in love) even 
as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.'* 
Matt. 5 :43-48. 

NOT HATE FOR HATE. 

1. The spirit of benevolence is to be entertained to- 
ward those w'ho oppose us. We are not to give hate 
for hate but eontrariwise love for hate. A Christian 
lady said, "I love everybody, I love my friends, but 
I love my enemies more ibecause I think they need it 
more. ' ' 

Loving all men is vital. It is central in the Chris- 
tian life. Our whole duty is involved in love. 

Love for those who hate us is so 'contrary to hu- 
man nature that it is everywhere considered the es- 
sence of a true Christian character. 



70 A Message for You. 

PRAISE THEIR VIRTUES. 

2. Bless tliem. Make fhem happy. Add to their 
success. Let praise of their virtues have its place. 
Regard their noble traits of character and speak of 
them as brothers. Bless and curse not. 

Is this going beyond the limit of exact justice? 
Perfhaps, but, 

**The quality of mercy is not stnained; 
It droppetih as the gentle rain from heaven 
Upon the place 'beneath. It is twice 'bless 'd: 
It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.'' 

PRAY FOR THEM. 

3. Pray *for them. There is no mistaking the per- 
sons Jesus means us to petitibn heaven's 'blessings 
upon: *'Pray for those who despitefuUy use you 
and persecute yiou." This is eonnected with Jesus' 
emphatic, "(but I say," as opposed to the teaching 
of the world. 

Those for whom we are to pray are not indifferent 
fellows who dislike, hut let us alone. Alive 
and active in their hate they oppose and injure us. 
They afflict us. They persecute us. They revile and 
injure us in reputation, business and in every way 
they can. 

Paul said, *'lbein'g reviled, we ibless; 'being perse- 
cuted we suffer it; 'being defamed, we intreat; we 
are made as the filth and 'offscouring of all thlugs 
unto this day. 1 Cor. 4, 12, 13. How gentle and 



A Message for You. 71 

courageous tlie apostle was with his cruel enemies 
and how he prayed for them. 

Peter quotes the example of Jesus: **Who, wthen 
he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered 
he threatened not; but 'committed himself to him 
that judgeth righteously/' 1 Peter 2:23. 

Is this diffieult? But remember that if we pray 
for our enemies earnestly and faithfully, we will 
come to love them. Our sentiments toward them 
will change so that we may come to have a sense 
o'f peculiar sweetness as we think lof them. God is 
able to make all grace abound toward us. 

FORGIVE THEM. 

4. Forgive 'them. The Lord's prayer for his peo- 
ple is, **And forgive us our sins for we also forgive 
every one that is indebted to us." Laike 1:4. His 
own comment on the petition is, ''For if ye forgive 
men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also 
forgive yooi.'* 

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither 
will your Father forgive your trespasses.'' Matt. 
6 :14-15. 

W'hat a gracious privilege to be a;ble to forgive 
our enemies. They may not desire or care for our 
grace and love. A tender disposition toward them 
may, even for a time, enrage them. They may be 
unthankful and treat us roughly. But we have the 
privilege to forgive. The grace of forgiveness may 
Ibe in our hearts. Yea, the spirit df forgiveness 
must be there or we are unforgiven. 



72 A Message for You. 

FORGIVE THE UNWORTHY. 

What if they do not ask to O^e forgiven? What 
if they are not worithy? Did Jesus vrait for his ene- 
mies to repent 'before he f org-ave ;tihein ? Did 'he not 
say of his persecutors, "Father forgive them for 
they 'know not what they do?" Did not the martyr 
Stephen, while the mob hurled s>tones at him, 'his 
face shining as thong^h it were an angel's, cry with 
a loTid voice, ''Lord, lay not this sin to their 
ehiarge?" 

If our enemies do not repent laad make appropri- 
ate confession are we not to forgive ? There are men 
Whose lives are wrong toward God 'and man, who 
will not confess their wrong doing? Shall we retain 
unforgiveness in our (hear^ts? What if we were to 
die in this state of mind ? Can we in this condition 
enjoy mental freedom or spiritual victory? 

If we wait for our enemies to repent we may never 
advance. *But thank Ood we are not dependent up- 
on any man's attitude toward us. We may 'have 
the spirit of forgiveness flowing through our hearts 
so that we may be clean of any taint of sin though 
we may 'be hated by God's enemies and ours. 

DO HIM A KINDNESS. 

5. We may do them good. 

Away back in the law it was written: "If thou 
meet thine enemy's ox or ^ass going astray, thou sihalt 
surely bring it back to 'him again." 

"If thou see the ass of 'him that hateth thee lying 



A Message for You. 73 

under his burden, and woulde^ (forbear to help him, 
thou shalt surely help with him.'* Ex. 23 -A, 5. 

Kind regard for our enemies will finally win them. 
Kindness would stop many lawsuits and bitter neigh- 
borhood broils. It would prevent a large part of the 
litigation in our courts and put a certain class of 
lawyers out of business. Ood hasten the day. 

Instead 'of giving place to wrath on our enemies, 
Paul, who was a splendid example of tender love to 
his foes, ex'horts the Romans: ''Therefore if thine 
'enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him 
drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire 
on his head." Rom. 12:20. 

GOD KNOWS. 

And Solomon from whom the above is a quotation, 
adds: "And the Lord shall reward thee." So that 
if any one fears that his enemy is too stupid or self- 
willed to appreciate a kindness the wise man says 
that the Lord will remember the good deed and ** re- 
ward thee. ' ' So let us not lose heart. We are deal- 
ing with God. 

KILL YOUR ENEMIES. 

The late Sam Jones tells of a man w<ho, buying a 
farm was told that he could not get along with the 
neightbor adjoining him, for he quarreled with every 
neig'hbor. He replied that he would kill him with 
kindness. 

The word got back to the neighbor that the new- 
comer said that he would kill him. The tale hearer 



74 A Message for You, 

is apt to twist tihe trutli. This further angered him. 

Soon he moved lonto his farm 'and his troubles be- 
gan. His cattle getting dn'to his neighbor's fields 
-the fractions man would turn them onto the public 
road. He would kill a sheep intruding on his prem- 
ises land throw its carcass over the fence 'onto its own 
territory. And in many ways he proved a foe to be 
feared. 

When the enemy's stock got onto the Christian's 
5eld he drove them 'back onto the owner's grounds. 
Thus matters continued for some time. 

But the culmination came. One day *the Christian 
met his neigihbor in the road with his wagon mired 
in the mud. His condition was helpless. We come 
to these extremities along life's way. Now was the 
^Christian man's opportunity. Taking his team from 
his own wagon and hitching "to his enemies, he pulled 
him out. 

With wonder and delight the man stammered out : 
*'They told me that you said you would kill me. Is 
this the way you do it?" '**I meant, said the Chris- 
tian, that I would kill you with kindness." *^Is this 
the way you do it? Well, I am dead, I am dead." 
And it is reported that his enemy was dead, a friend 
lived in his place. 

Tt was said of Archbishop Crammer tiiat if you 
"would he sure to have him do you a good turn, you 
must do him some ill one: For though he loved to 
do good to all, ydt especially he would watch for op- 
portunity to do good to such as had wronged him. 



A Message for You. 75 

A FEW ENEMIES ARE USEFUL. 

6. Enemies may be used as a means of spiritual 
advancement. 'Heavy weigihts develop the mus- 
cle. The grindstone sharpens the ax. The 
kite rises against adverse winds. Difficulties 
rightly met strengthen the soul. They 
develop our powers. Our enemies are often our best 
friends in tha't they compel us to watch and pray. 
They humble us. They quicken us. 

Our friends may flatter us. Not so our enemies. 
They search and try us. They know the weak places 
in our arm'our. They drive us to our knees. They 
make us think and cause us to examine our hearts 
and watch our lives. Were it not for them how 
could we exercise tbe graces of love, patience, and 
gentle forbearance ? 

In all this they are an advantage to us, though it 
may not be to their credit. They benefit us as the 
wrath of man praises God. John Wesley showed 
deep insight into human nature When he said; **Tlhe 
best helps to growth in .grace, are the ill usage, the 
affronts, and the losses which befall us.'' 

POOR CRIPPLES — ^BLIND TOO. 

If our enemies are 'blind in ha)te and unreasonable 
in opposition we may regard them as de'formed or 
diseased people. When we meet a cripple or one 
suffering from physical ailment vre do not get angry 
and swear at 'him but we are sorry and would help 
•him. If the disease is loathsome we plan to ailleviate 



76 A Message for You. 

!his sufferings and restore him to health. If his 
trou'ble is mental we say he is weaik and needs tender 
care and protection. Though he may torment ns, 
lOnr whole aim is to he helpful to an unfortunate 
brother. 

Why not regard 'Our enemies whose eyes are blind- 
ed and ^v'hose hearts are hardened against the gos- 
pel in the spirit 'of eoimpassion? Why should pity 
fill our hearts at the sight of physical ill and hard- 
ness and prejudice be our attitude toward those who 
are spiritually deformed and diseased? 



A Message for You. 77 

CHAPTEK XII. 
'CHRIST OiR A MHjLIiOiN" DOLLARS. 

"My kingdom for one moment of time." 

— Queen Elizabeth on her death bed. 

A man in a testimony meeting said that 'he would 
rather he a cihild of Grod than a millionaire and not 
a Ohristian. He would choose Christ rather than a 
million dollars. 

The statement caused the multitude to think and 
question: Was the man right? Was he not too 
radical? Might he not accept a million, if offered 
to him, and afterward accept Christ? Thus he 
would have Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and 
a million dollars with w'hich to do ^ood. 

THE MONEY FIRST? 

A million dollars is not to be scoffed at. It is 
not an every day offer. The church, is in constant 
need of money. Humanity needs it. Every good 
cause cries ou!t for help. A Christian can use vast 
sums of money in the service of his Master for hu- 
manity. It is too customary if or the church to decry 
money and it is as unwise as it is frequent. 

Upon the Christian man's testimony and the 
world's criticism I ohserve : 

JESUS OR BARABBAS. 

1. The man was loyal to Jesus Christ. He was 



78 A Miesage for You. 

h(Mi iScri'ptural and rational in his choice. The po- 
sition of critics is disloyialty to Christ and a practical 
rejection of His claims as Savior and Lord. 

2. Pilate asked the Jews, ''Whom will ye that 
I release unto you, Bara'b'bas or Jesus, which is 
.called the Christ?" They cried Barabbas. They 
could choose one or the other. To choose both was 
impossible. No wonder w^hen Pilate again asked, 
"What shall I do then with Jesus which is called 
Christ?" that they all cried out, "Let him be cruci- 
fied." To choose money before Christ is to crucify 
Christ. 

NOW. 

3. The present is the time to accept salvation. 
Now is the opportune time. Now is his time. "Be- 
hold now is the accepted time ; behold now is the day 
of salvation." I am now accepting or rejecting the 
offers of mercy. Not to accept now is to refuse now. 
To cihoose my own time is to refuse Christ's invita- 
tion. 

iQ-od is infinitely good to tell us when He will ac- 
cept us. The hour is set. It is now. If the Pres- 
ident of the United States were to grant me an au- 
dience with him I would know the hour that would 
suit him and not consult my convenience. 

Paul, in bonds, preached to the governor "right- 
et)usn'ess, temperance and judgment to come." Fe- 
lix tremlbied, and answered, "Go thy way for this 
time: when I have a convenient season I will caH 
for thee." 



A Message for You. 79 

A CONVENIENT SEASON. 

How mucli "he trembled and was under conviction 
for sin we may not know, ibut be refused to yield 
w<lien the Spirit called and we do not know that the 
"convenient season" ever came. It may be now or 
never. 

4. '*Ye cannot serve God and Mammon. He who 
would accept the million first chooses Mammon. And 
Mammon represents the world. No man can 
serve two masters. He dhooses Mammon or G-od — 
not both. He chooses the world. He loves the pres- 
ent evil world, and sets his affection upon the 
things of the world and not upon things above. 

GOD OR MAMMON. 

5. Jesus says, ''Seek ye first the kingdom of God 
and 'his righteousness and all these things shall be 
•added unto you." He does not mean that great 
wealth shall *be given to his children, but the neces- 
sities of life shall be supplied. ' ' Ye shall not want. ' ^ 
LAixuries are not necessary. They may be hurtful. 
He will care for His children as He cares for the 
birds and the lilies. The one He feeds and the 'other 
He cilotihes, more gorgeously than Solomon in all his 
•glory. 

The kingdom first ds God's order. To ichoose a 
million first is to change the plan of God. Anything 
placed before Christ brings confusion and conflict. 
'God is authority. First things shall be first. 

Christ or a million dollars ? It is the old question 



80 A Message for Yon. 

of Christ 'or B^flial? 'Christ or honor? Christ or 
pleasure ? Christ or iself? Ohrist or the world? 
Which shall it be? May the reader respond: 

''Ta'ke the world, hut give me Jesus, 

All its joys are but a name ; 
For His I'ove abideth ever 

Through eternal years the same/' 

Hear the authoritative word: ''If 'any man will 
oome after me, let him deny himself and take up his 
cross and follow me." 

' ' For wihosoever will save his life shall lose it ; and 
whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 
For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole 
world and lose his own soul? or what shall a man 
give in exchange for his soul?'' Matt. 16:24-26. 



A Message for You. 81 

OHLA^PTEiR XIII. 
WORLDLY OOMPEOMISE. 

"Worldliness — its plans, its pursuits, its culture, its 
pleasures, its ambitions, its philosophy — all are godless.'' 

— A. T. Pierson. 

"I believe when we bring the church down to the level 
of the world, we are all the while grieving the spirit of 
God. But some say, if we take that standard, and lift it 
up high it will drive a good many members from our 
churches. I believe it. And I think the quicker they are 
gone the better." — D. L. Moody. 

'The friendship of the world is enmJty with God." 

— Bdble. 

How many profligate children come from professing 
Christian homes and even from ministers' families! 
We expect the dangerous classes to come from the 
bad elements of society, but again and again we find 
young men living unworthily, whose lives are a fail- 
ure, in jails and penitentiaries, who have come froim 
the bosoms of professing Christian families 'and have 
been taught in Sunday schools. 

THE FORMEK DAYS. 

We are reminded that a generation ago the pro- 
portion of church members who observed strictly the 
forms of religion was greater than at present. Fam- 
ily prayer and regard for the Sabbath are not per- 
haps as prevalent as they were among professors. 
The general morals of society may be better but the 
standards of the church are lowered to meet the 



82 A Message for You. 

world. Has the cliurch said to the world, ' ' We will 
not make too great demands upon you. We will 
meet you half way ? ' ' We are taking the world and 
the world is taking us. The ship in the sea is in its 
element, but the sea in the ship 'bodes the destruc- 
tion of the vessel. 

In earlier days the candidate for church member- 
ship broke with his sins and the world. His old 
manner of life might be decidedly changed. A the- 
ater-goer, dancer, card player, horse racer, drinker 
or swearer fought the battle between church and 
world before casting his fortunes with the church. 
If he failed he would not likely assume the insignia 
of a Christian. 

THE LINE OF SEPAKATION. 

'The idistinguishing marks between church and 
world were plain and well known. Conditions have 
changed. The line of separation between professor 
and non-professor is dim and uncertain. 

Respectable members of 'Cihurch patronize worldly 
'amusements and live secular lives. The profession 
of Christianity being largely the observance of a 
ceremony neeessary to entrance into church. 

FASHIONABLE CHURCHES. 

Certain churches known as f ashiona'ble and world- 
ly are for rich and leading society people. Many re- 
gard them as social clu^bs, fraternities or societies. 
The working man and his family are not sought nor 
eagerly welcomed. 



A Message for You. 83 

The ignlf ^between these churches and the laboring 
classes is fixed, and there is too little passage from 
one to the 'other. It is against these churches that 
the laboring man has the spirit that makes him hiss 
when they patronizingly offer the hand of help. 

SOCIETY PREACHERS. 

Ministers of worldly churches defend by word and 
example the fashions of the world, the pleasures and 
extravagances of the day. Memhers freely indulge 
without reibuke the ways of the forbidden world. 
These churches exert wide influence. Their mem- 
bers are leaders in society, politics and business. 

Cultivated people possessed of many excellent 
traits of character, they affect the life of smaller 
churches and that of towns, villages, and country 
places. They lower the standard of Christian living 
and repudiate Bible Christianity as fogyism. 

LITTLE OUT OF DATE. 

Plain 'Bible teaching is called ''old fasihioned." 
They believe in an up-to-date religion, liberal in the- 
ology and practice. They call their li'berality Chris- 
tian charity. It fairly hristles with worldly policy 
and shrewdness. It does away with sin, holiness and 
hell. They don't care what others do and they do 
not want to be troubled with your strictness, nar- 
rowness and prejudice and such things as creeds, 
dogmas, and Bible practices. They think that there 
is great danger of over zeal in religion, for why,. 



84 A Message for You. 

they say, should a man destroy himself hefore the 
time? 

WHITED SEPULCHERS. 

Worldly ministers and ehurches menace the cause 
of 'Christ. Fialse istandards turn men from the path 
of life. Multitudes of people, kept in spiritual dark- 
ness and ignorance, go into eternity without warning 
'and hope. 

'Not entering the kingdom they prevent those who 
would from entering. They are the Pharisees of the 
present day ; they are whited sepulchers, white with- 
out and corrupt within and often foul hoth without 
and within. 

THE BATTLE WITH THE PHARISEES. 

If Christ were present they would oppose him as 
they did when he was upon earth. His hard fought 
'battles were with the Pharisees. 

So it is today. True ministers are in hiattie with 
the Pharisees. These dominate worldly churches. 
They rule or ruin. 

Men of Ood cannot prop'hesy smooth things and 
continue to be men of iGod. And so a worldly church 
makes rough sailing for God 's prophets. Godly min- 
isters may have talent and culture but if they dare 
to be true to their vows to preach the word, they 
must suffer. 

''^KNEE high'"' infidels. 

Jesus 'Christ is crucified in the house of his friends. 
He receives the Judas kiss and is betrayed into the 
hands of his enemies. 



A Message for You. 85 

Half truths are uttered. The integrity of the Bi- 
ble is attacked. The pulpiteer may be a higher crit- 
ic, sowing tares among the wheat. Vowing to preach 
the word and receiving salary to do it he betrays 
Ood's truth and takes a stand with reference to his 
solemn vows that for common honesty would not be 
tolerated in the commercial world. 

The full pospel of salvation is suppressed or op- 
posed. Blind guides lead the people and both to- 
gether fall into the ditch of ruin and despair. 

A hireling ministry, by which I mean men entering 
the ministry, not called of God, but adopting the sa- 
cred calling as a profession, covets the people's gold 
rather than the salvation of their precious, never 
dying souls. 

The state of the church affects the family life of 
the nation and leaves the home without a high stand- 
ard of holy living. 

NO HOME RELIGION. 

Parents though nominal Christians are without 
salvation. The home is godless. There is no family 
religion. Children never hear their parents pray. 
The home is without holy conversation. Godly min- 
isters may be ridiculed. Think of it, no Christian 
example ; no prevailing prayer ; no concern for the 
salvation of the children in professing Christian 
homes. Parents may be careful to baptize or con- 
firm their children. They may have the name of 
Christian. But Shakespeare, the great interpreter 
of human nature, shrewdly asks: 



86 A Message for You. 

** What's in a name? that which we call a rose, 
By any other name would smell as sweet. ' ' 

Other influences affect fhe standard of piety in the 
home. Women's clubs may cause women to 
neglect home for society. 'The lodge for both men 
and women may further detract from the home, mak- 
ing it a lodging and boarding place rather than the 
center of attraction for the whole family. 

Fraternities swarm like ibees. They include high 
ischo'ol children. These mimic the 'College and uni- 
versity. And all are often inimical to proper church 
discipline, right family life, 'and the formation of 
Christian character. 

In one city the school children handed together 
demanding shorter hours of their teachers. In an- 
other city a $30,000 high school building was 
reduced to a heap of ashes. A class determined to 
tack up its banner in the dead hour of the night, was 
opposed by a rival faction. In connection with the 
desperate struggle the fire occurred. 

The drift is unheal thful. Children early become 
unmanageable and tainted with wrong ideals. They 
are not healthy children but rather dwarfed men and 
women. 

GOOD SOCIETY. 

A feverish society life takes the place of a quiet, 
holy family life. The usages of "good society" are 
adopted. It must be so. ^'You might as well be out 
of the world as out of the fashion," is no meaningless 



A Message for You. 87 

phrase. Madame fashion is imperious. Thoug'h in 
silken g-love she rules with iron hand. 

"iGrOod society!" What prevails in ''good soci- 
ety?" A thoroughly worldly life, worldly amuse- 
ments, worldly conversation, worldly principles, 
worldly maxims, worldly usages and extravagance 
prevail. The standards 'of living are worldly and 
its spirit is of the world. It is of ''the world, the 
flesh and the devil." 

iCan a man take fire into his *bosom and not he 
burned? Can he drink poison with impunity? Can 
he ibreath malarious atmosphere and not become dis- 
eased? €an he walk in quicksand and not sink? 
Can he fall from a precipice and not he injured? Can 
he jump into a raging flood and not be drowned? 

Neither can one take worldly society as his guide 
and be a Christian. He will make shipwreck of 
faith. "If ye live after the fle^h, ye shall die: but 
if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the 
body ye shall live." 

Is ^'Good Society" not imperious in her demands? 
Cross her and see. Disapprove her laws, customs or 
even notions, and she will spurn you. 

As a professing Christian parent lift your family 
life a little, 'but decidedly, ahove the par of the re- 
ligious world around you and see if it does not re- 
quire courage and independence of a hig'h order. 
You will find determined resistance from leading so- 
ciety and church people. They will oppose them- 
selves and argue with the subtlety of his satanic 



88 A Message for You. 

majesty who would deceive the very elect. Stand 
for God in your own home ag'ainst popular amuse- 
ments, pleasures and extravagance and ''go'od soci- 
ety" will take offense. Persist in your righteous 
stand and they will separate themselves from your 
company and cast your name out as evil. They will 
cry "to strict," "narrow, higoted, peculiar." They 
will ostracize you. 

SET THE FASHION OF A HOLY LIFE. 

You ask what shall we do ? What shall 'our child- 
ren do for society? I ask are you a man or a mouse? 
Are you man or master? Surely your life is your 
own. You are no one's misera'ble slave, unless you 
choose to he. Throw off your chains and declare 
your freedom. Be a man. Lift up a standard for 
the people. If "good society" rejects you, make 
your own environment. Do right. Follow <xod. 
Don't follow the fashions of this present evil world, 
hut set the fashion of a holy life and a godly home 
in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among 
whom ye shine as lights in the world. 

THE FKIENDSHIP OF THE WORLD. 

Paul says, "I heseech you therefore brethren, by 
the mercies of Ood that ye present your bodies a liv- 
ing sacrifice: holy, acceptable unto Ood, which is 
your reasonable service. And be not conformed to 
this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of 
your minds, that ye may prove what is that good, 
'and acceptable and perfect will of 'G^od. ' ^ Kom. 12 : 



A Message for You. 89 

1-2. '"'For ye are boug'Tit with a price; therefore, 
glorify Ood in your body, and in your spirit, which 
are His.' ^ 1 Cor. 6-20. 

The Apostle James says: ''The friendship of the 
world is enmity with God." The Apostle John said: 
**If any man love the world the love of the Father 
is not in him." And Jesus said of Christians: ''Ye 
are the salt of the earth. Ye are the lig'ht of the 
world." 

Oh! that we could all say with Paul, "The life 
which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of 
the Son of Ood, who loved me and gave himself for 
me." Gal. 2-20. 



90 A Message for You. 



CiHiAiPIT'EK XW. 

SACKIFTOE. 

"Sacrifice is love made manifest. By sacrifice love 
speaks. It measures the "how much" of love. Love with- 
out sacrifice is like fire without flame, a tree without a 
leaf, a stalk without a flower. We see so little sacrifice 
because we see so little love. Love is the key to sacrifice." 

— Mrs. Booth-Tucker. 

iSa'crifice has almost gone out of fashion. We get 
what we want. We indulge our tastes. We build 
fine houses 'and adorn them with elegant furnishings. 
We eat, drink, dress, travel, and live expensively -and 
luxuriously — if we are able. 

It is our affair, if we afford ease, luxury and style. 
It is our money; we earned it: we can do as we 
fyiease with our own. It is no one's 'business what 
we do so long as we harm no one. Thus we talk and 
talk. 

The iGrospel of Self Sacrifice is supplemented by the 
gospel of self indulgence. We enjoy this and see no 
harm in it. It is a little thing, not worthy of thought, 
certainly not of having scruples about. The very 
meaning of the word self-denial is almost lost. 

FASTING. 

In Methodist tcircles the old time practice of fast- 
ing is gmng out of fashion. The fathers observed 
this denial, recommended it as a means of grace, 



A Message for You. 91 

good for soul and bodj. But their sons, strangers 
to tihe usage, ridicule it as old fogy. 

A recent Oeneral Conference sought to obliterate 
all reference to fasting from the discipline as a re- 
quirement of young preachers in connection with 
prayer and heart searching before they were ordain- 
ed to the ministry. 

A persistent effort is made to remove the para- 
graph from the discipline making penal offense of 
theater going, card playing and dancing. The para- 
graph retains its place, but for the past few quad- 
renniums it has undergone severe firing. At the 
present increase of worldliness the voice of the 
church will soon cease its protest against leading 
worldly amusements. 

It is no sacrifice to give up what we do not want 
or deny ourselves what costs nothing. One may do- 
nate old clothes or cold victuals to the poor without 
inconvenience ; indeed by doing so he may rid himself 
of burdensome luggage. 

Sacrifice differs from submission. Losses are the 
common lot of humanity. Sickness, suffering and 
death come alike to all and it is foolish to rebel. We 
submit to the inevitable. There is no helping it. 
But there is not the virtue of glad choice in sub- 
mission. 

Sacrifice and penance are not identical. Penance 
doles out duties. Its language is, ''you have sinned. 
Now, pay by suffering. Hell is before you. Buy re- 
lief." Penance stands with scales in hands measur- 



9'2 A Message for You. 

ing out for gin, suffering. Thus men would pur- 
'cliase salvation. But salvation is by grace, not by 
works, lest any man should boast. 

SACRIFICE MEANS LOVE. 

iSaerifice gives up some lawful self-gratification for 
the igood of others or for a higher good. It sees a 
need and supplies it. It says, '*I will supply the de- 
ficiency at a cost to myself — ^at any eost.^' It sub- 
jects itself to danger, loss or suffering for others. It 
takes risks which could be avoided. 

Sacrifice is the language and measure of love. 
There is little sacrifice because there is little love. 
Where there is much love there is much sacrifice. 

The mother at the bedside of her sick child sits up 
all night, not counting the hours, except as her heart 
throbs measure the pain of the loved one. The days 
steal into weeks. iShe grows weary and worn. But 
•one thought thrills her bosom — ^the welfare of her 
child. She says, "Oh, that I could suffer for my 
child ! I would gladly endure aches and pains if the 
one I love better than life might be relieved. 
Thoug'hts of sordid gain, ease or self-indulgence en- 
ter not into her heart. One consuming ambition 
burns her breast : ^ ' My darling, oh, that he might be 
restored to me. Oh, that he might not suffer, I 
would lay down my life for him if that were the price 
of his salvation.** 

SACRIFICE WILL BUY LOVE-. 

Go a step further. Sacrifice will buy love. The 



A Message for You. 93 

mother of a family of nolble children explained their 
devotion to her Iby saying, "I gave them myself." 
iShe spared no pains to train them. She talked with 
them and entered into their pleasures and pains. She 
read and prayed with them. Their living compan- 
ion, and friend, she won them and retained their 
affection by unselfish devotion. 

This is the secret of the ''Sisters of Charity." 
Their sacrifice is the turning power of love. Loving 
self-denials win to them and their church the sub- 
jects of their devoted care. 

THE SALVATION ARMY. 

Sacrifice is the key to the secret of the Salvation 
Army's hold upon the hearts of the people. 

Their officers as strangers go to any city without 
salary and with no official boards or ladies aid socie- 
ties to welcome or be responsible for their success. 
Themselves, at the mercy of people, they plead, plan 
and labor for weak, unfortunate humanity. In re- 
sponse the world rises to honor General Booth. 

Behold the difference in the sentiment of the peo- 
ple toward the late Alexander Dowie, self-styled, 
''the 'Second Elijah," living in luxury, filled with 
pomp and pride, swollen with conceit, gorgeously at- 
tired, assuming the attitude of a superior being, 
rolling in wealth at the expense of people who had 
become infatuated through his magnetic influence 
over them. 

Oeneral Booth, living simply, a life exemplifying 



94 A Message for You. 

the law of sacrifice, witli millions of soldiers who 
hoii'or his word, yet living so hum'bly that he does 
not read w^hat the papers say in his praise. And 
thougih imiilions of money come to the Army his per- 
sonal income is small and he suffers hardness as a 
good soldier of Jesns Christ. 

The world hates the one land hastens to forget his 
memory. The world loves the other, and rises to do 
him honor. And men will perpetuate his memory as 
a rich legacy. "What is its meaning? It is the pur- 
<;hasing power of a life of sacrifice. 

MUST DIE TO LIVE. 

The Jews uttered a truth when they said of Jesus 
on the eross, **'He saved others, himself he cannot 
save.'' Men who save others cannot save them- 
selves. They must suffer loss — they must die. The 
grain of wheat that is sown must die before it can 
bring forth a harvest. If the grain will not die it 
abides lalone. So the man who would be mightily 
used of Ood must die to sin and self. 

This element will redeem the church from sloth 
and fill it with new life. 

THE FASHIONABLE PROFESSOR. 

An aristocratic young lady, a memher of ehurch, 
wrote to her pastor explaining why she could not en- 
gage in tchurch work, outlining her program as fol- 
lows : 

She rose late, prepared her toilet and hreakfasted. 
Thus the morning hours were spent. In the after- 



A Message for You. 95 

noon from 3 to 5 o'clock she made calls with her 
mother. At 5 she received calls, dined at 7 and went 
to the theatre at 8. Thus the hours passed and her 
pleasures and dissipations led late into ni^ht. 

Sure enough ! What time was left for the service 
of Ood? Mind and hody jaded with the weary- 
round she would leave no strength or relish for God's 
service. 

Another young lady 'of wealth joined the Salva- 
tion Army. Her friends thought this a strange and 
radical action. When waited upon by a newspaper re- 
porter s'he said that for ten years she had ibeen a 
church member. The Christian life, with her, had 
been a failure and hypocrisy. Her religion had been 
confined to times and places. And she indulged 
things that were inconsistent for Christians, upon 
w^hich she could not ask 'G-od 's favor. Weary of the 
past she had given herself to God in absolute sur- 
render. She did not wish sympathy, for her life 
had changed from dullness to one of supreme joy. 
She found -a consecrated life worth while and though 
her surroundings were humble her joy knew no 
bounds. 

SACRIFICE SPELLS POWER. 

A small church — ^like thousands of its kinds — had 
'been living for years at ^'n poor dying rate. ' ' A few 
mem'bers said, '^we live wholly for God." They per- 
formed the doing of it. This changed their lives and 
the character of the church. From paying $136 for 
pastoral support they jumped to $800, and the ser- 



96 A Message for You. 

vices of iGrod's house were held in power. The church 
became known for aJbundant good works. 

We woii'ld rise to place of responsibility. Are we 
willing to pay the price? It is said that great suc- 
cess is usually hinged upon peculiar renunciations 
of personal preferences. 

Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of 
Ood rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a 
season. The world would say, "what a fool?" Bui 
M'oses chose to be Ood-centered rather than self -cen- 
tered, sacrificdng for his people rather than himself. 
He lives today the prophet of Ood, the lawgiver of 
the ages, the m^an of Ood whose memory shall never 
fade from the earth. 

THE LIMP OF VICTOKY. 

Jacob suffered some peculiar loss, when, after pre- 
vailing with the angel, he went limping upon his 
thigh. But it was the limp of victory. 

Three hundred Gideonites may have lacked the 
stately bearing of uniformed soldiers. But having 
the spirit of soldiers they were worth more than 32,- 
000 undisciplined recruits. 

Paul ate no meat offered to idols but his self-denial 
was for others. The meat was no worse because 
touched by heathen idolatry. But weak brethren 
thought its use involved them in compromise with 
idols. And so Paul uttered the lofty sentiment : ''If 
eating 'meat makes my brother to offend I will eat 
no meat while the world standeth lest I make my 
brother to offend. ' ' 



A Message for You. 97 

Christians gain power ^by self-denials that may not 
be known by others and their renunciation of pleas- 
ure and ease may not be connected, by the unthink- 
ing", with a life of fruitfulness. But the vine trim- 
med of superfluous branches bears much fruit. 

Sitting in railroad depots writing articles for pa- 
pers and chapters for books rather than enjoy the 
hospitality of eager friends, is the price one eminent 
minister pays for a ministry that influences men from 
one end of the land to the other. In writing more 
than twenty 'books he will continue to preach long 
after his body is in the grave. 

LOSE YOUK LIFE TO FIND IT. 

Some see nothing 'but bitterness in a life of Chris- 
tian self-denial. They think of privation and suf- 
fering. They say ''it is give up and surrender." 
Yes, sacrifice and sacrifice. If others are to be con- 
sidered, what about our good and well being ?'* 

It remains to be said that the consecrated life is 
one of blessedness. There are sweets in sacrifice. 
It oipens doors to purest and deepest joys. In every 
act of self-denial the lower nature cries hut the high- 
er nature laughs. 

Selfishness is disappointing. It opens hell in our 
'bosoms while the life of love, finding expression in 
service for others, is the victorious life, the life more 
ahundant, the life of heaven (begun on earth. 



98 A Message for You. 

CHiAPTEK. XV. 
SEiPiAjEATION. 

"If there was one message that Christ made plain it 
was that his followers had to be different from the world." 

— The Sunday School Times. 

This is a day of associations. Men com'bine in bus- 
iness, politics and m. every interest wihich they would 
proimote. It is no longer ''John Smith," alone, in 
ibusiness, but; "Smith, Jones and 'Company. " Busi- 
ness is going from the individual to the company 
with aggregated capital and influence. Corporations 
and trusts rule the markets, and sometimes ruin 
them. 

Men combine in good causes. Temperance, prison, 
l^ahor and other reforms have thus been promoted. 
''Together" is the magic word of today in every 
good work. Good men associated multiply their in- 
fluence and strength. 

I sp^ak, now, not of association. Separation from 
doubtful and evil associations needs emphasis in a 
day when the tendency is to follow the multitude. 

MIXING WITH WORLDLY SETS. 

One cause of religious declension is the too free 
intercourse of Christians with the world; the indis- 
criminate mingling of God's children with all sorts 
and conditions of men on their own terms ; their go- 
ing into all sorts of isociety, and 'being governed by 



A Message for You. 9& 

the principles and maxims that govern the world. 
"The object, in a general way, may not be bad — an 
evening of pleasure, the desire to pass a social 'hour^ 
to meet friends, or to form new acquaintances." A 
man's business, work, or politics, may link him with 
men who are not Christians, even among the wicked. 

CLUB LIFE. 

Modem club life mingles men and women indis- 
criminately. It has its gains, but losses, also, in 
spiritual tone and vigor to one w'ho would be wliolly 
devoted to Christ. 

College fraternities, with social functions, the 
dance, cards, and smokers, menace the spiritual life 
of young Christians. These fraternities often in- 
timidate Christian young people. They dare not say 
"we are Christians." Some of these young people 
from Christian homes are taught that there is a dif- 
ference <Fetween the church and the world. But 
their associations tend to oMiterate the distinction 
between Ohristian and worldling. 

COURAGE. 

'Courage is needed in a young person to say "no" 
to the pleading invitation of a charming young lady 
to dance, play 'cards or attend the theater. A man 
is not made of stone, and "to 'be out of the fas'hion, 
one might as well 'be out of the world" is not an 
empty phrase. While others freely indulge forbid- 
den worldly amusements it is a trying ordeal to a 
young person's religious principles. 



100 A Message for You. 

I do not say that people eaniiot maintain the forms 
of religion in connection with a worldly life, but it 
will 'generally be found to'o tedious to do so. They 
may even come to deny the power of godliness. 

I am sure that the weak faith of God's children 
may be lattributed to their worldly associations. They 
ahsoirb the spirit of the world; they lose the spirit 
'of Christ. 

If one would be strong in the Lord and the power 
of his might, he must 'be a separated Christian. He 
must be separate from sinners. That is a great 
Scripture which says, ''Come out from among them 
and 'be ye separate and touch not the unclean thing, 
and I will receive you, and I will be a father unto 
you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the 
Lord.'' 

STAT IN" THE CHURCH. 

We are not to come out from the church. The 
church is of divine appointment. There is wicked- 
ness in the church, but it is Ood 's church. Judas Is- 
cariot belonged to the church. Ananias and Sapphira 
were members of the Divine family. The church 
was corrupt in the days of Jesus and the apostles, 
'but that did not form an occasion for them to desert 
''the fold"; they did not advise it, but warned the 
church to cleanse itself from sin. 

THE MON'KS. 

In the same way we are not to hold ourselves aloof 
from commerce, nor to forsake the abodes of men. 



A Message for You. 101 

The monks made a mistake in retiring from the 
world. Their solitude was not good in its effect up- 
on their lives, nor upon society. Jesus, in his inter- 
cessory prayer, met this temptation that comes to de- 
vout souls when he said, ''I pray not that shouldst 
take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst 
keep them from evil." 

KEPT FROM EVIL. 

Our separation is to Tdc from the evil. "We are to he 
in the world, hut not of the world. We are to he 
separated from evil. We are not to touch it. In 
this Christians are a ''peculiar people." 

'Mr. Wesley's comment on this verse is, ''Keep as 
far as possible from all ungodly men. ' ' We are not 
forbidden to converse with wicked men on business, 
but if there is no necessity we are not to do so. The 
ground of this prohibition is laid in the preceding 
verse, "What fellows'hip hath righteousness with un- 
righteousness, and what communion hath light with 
darkness." 

THE LITTLE FOXES. 

"The consequence of not obeying this direction 
would not make any difference at first, !but little by 
little our zeal would be -dampened; we would be- 
come less heavenly minded ; we would lose our good 
resolutions and fall into outward sins and conform 
with the world. Thus mixing with the world many 
Christians lose strength and the sweetness and pow- 
er of religion out of their souls." 



102 A Message for You. 

Mr. Wesley's own experience is so striking that 
I place it here in his own words as a warning to a 
worldly church and to all who would have the power 
of godliness in their lives. 

Wesley's sepaeation. 

*' When it pleased Ood to give me a settled resolu- 
tion, to be not n nominal, but a real Christian (being 
then ab'oout twenty-two years of age) my acquain- 
tances were as ignorant of God as myself. But there 
was this difference — I knew my own ignorance ; they 
did not know theirs. I faintly endeavored to help 
them, Ibut in vain. 

*' Meantime I found, 'hj sad experience, that even 
their harmless conversation, so-called, damped all 
my good resolutions. But how to get rid of them 
was the question which I resolved in my mind again 
and again. 

'*! saw no possible way, unless it should please 
God to remove me to another college. He did so, in 
a manner utterly contrary to all human probability. 
I was elected fellow of a college, where I knew not 
one person. I foresaw, abundance of people would 
come to see me, either out of friendship, civility or 
curiosity; and that I should have offers of acquain- 
tance, new and old ; but I had now fixed my plan. 

** Entering now, as it were, into a new world, I re- 
solved to have no acquaintances by chance, but by 
choice ; and to choose such only as I had reason to be- 
lieve would help me on my way to heaven. In conse- 



A Message for You. 103 

quence of this, I narrowly observed the temper and 
behavior of all that visited me. I saw no reason to 
think that the greater part of these trnly loved or 
feared God. Such acquaintances, therefore, I did 
not choose; I could not expect that they would do 
me any good. 

SIXTY YEAES. 

"Therefore, when any of these came to see me, I 
•behaved as courteously as I eould. But to the ques- 
tion, *'wlien will you come to see me?" I returned no 
answer. When they had co'me a few times, and 
found I still declined returning the visit, I saw 
them no more. And I 'bless God, this has been my 
invariable rule for about three score years. I knew 
many reflections would follow ; but this did not move 
me; as I knew full well, it was my calling to go 
* through evil report and good report.* 

*'I earnestly advise all of you who resolve to be, 
not alm'ost, but altogether Christians, to adopt the 
same plan ; however contrary it may he to flesh and 
'blood. Narrowly observe, much of those that fall in 
yonr way. Note those who are like minded with 
yourself; who among them have you reason to be- 
lieve fears God and works righteousness? iSet them 
down as worthy of your acquaintance; gladly and 
freely converse with them at all opportunities. As 
to all who do not answer that character, gently and 
quietly let them drop. 

A PUTTY FACE CANNOT BE A CHRISTIAN. 

However good natured and sensible they may be, 



104 A Message for You. 

they will do you no real service. Nay, if they did not 
lead you into outward sin, yet they would be a con- 
tinual clog to your soul, and would hinder your run- 
ning with vigor and cheerfulness the race that is set 
before you. And if any of your friends, that did 
once run well, *'turn hack from the holy command- 
ment once delivered to them" , first use every method 
that prudence can suggest, to bring them again into 
the good way. But if you cannot prevail, let them 
go ; only still commending them unto God in prayer. 
Drop all familiar intercourse with them, and save 
your own soul." 

TOO STRICT. 

Some persons may say that Mr. Wesley's course 
was very ultra. He would lose friends and influ- 
ence. Men would call him singular, an enthusiast; 
a man has no right to live so exclusively. We must 
love our fellowmen. 

If Mr. Wesley did lose influence with some men, he 
gained power with the whole world of mankind, and 
that not only in his own country and generation, but 
in all lands and succeeding generations. Mr. Wesley 
lives a larger life today than he lived a hundred 
years ago when he was on earth. *'He being dead 
yet speaketh." 

The watchword of the age is association. We 
quote the Scripture, ''Ye are the salt of the earth," 
and say that the salt must be applied to the thing it 
is to preserve or it is useless. We say, **Ye are the 



A Message for You, 105 

light of the world," and the light must be placed in 
a position where the world can see it. 

Jesus ate and drank with publicans and sinners. 
He was contemptuously called "the friend of sin- 
ners." But his purpose was always to do good. He 
was never a hail-fellow with the crowd. 

We may thus mingle with men safely if our whole 
aim and spirit is to hless them. Many people start 
the Christian life and never bring any fruit to per- 
fection. Are they not sincere? Are they not earn- 
est? Are they seeking to make a mock of religion? 
They are not. They are sincere and earnest, but 
they are not separate from sinners. They have not 
taken the final stand and cut all 'connections with 
the forbidden world. 

society's IRON" HAND. 

By and by temptation comes. Madam Society 
says, ''You are invited to my party; the elite will 
be there; you are one of the chosen." The tempta- 
tion and struggle are now on. The tempted are 
likely to yield. The bad will seem doubtful. The 
doubtful will seem indifferent, perhaps good, even 
the better w^ay. Satan transforms himself into an 
'angel of light to deceive the very elect. The serpent 
c^harms the deceived victim. 

THE INSULATED STOOL. 

When a boy in school we had experiments in our 
philosophy class. We held in our hands a 



106 A Message for You. 

wire connected wit'li a machine w'hieli generated 
electricity. 

While we stood on an insulated stool we felt the 
electricity. Our hair isltood on end. But if 
one touched us, if we put as much as one foot on the 
ground the electricity passed from us. We might 
stand with both feet on the stool with glass legs, hut 
if 'as little a thing as a eotton thread was thrown 
•over our shoulder eonnected with one not on the in- 
sulated stool or reaching to the earth, the electricity 
at once passed from us. No matter how much elec- 
tricity we received, we retained none if we were eon- 
nected with the earth. 

This illustrates the need of the heliever being sep- 
arated from the present evil world ; its associates ; its 
principles; its methods, and its spirit. 

GOOD BUT WEAK. 

There are multitudes w'hose intentions are good, 
who would rather be good than bad, but who are not 
a force in the world for righteousness and true holi- 
ness. They do not have the liberty that they crave. 
They are without power and peace and purity, be- 
cause they do not break connection with doubtful 
and evil associations. 

They do not stand on the insulated stool of sepa- 
ration from the world. They will he had in reputa- 
tion among the worldly. They are 'afraid of offend- 
ing their friends. They fear ostracism. The fear 
of man and the love of the favor of man cause them 



A Message for You 107 

to draw back from saying, "The lone way is my 
choice. I go alone with God.'' 

Cards, the dance, the theatre, the three great rep- 
resentative worldly amusements, come with their 
plausible excuses for patronage. Church members 
indulge them; society people promote them; the par- 
lors and hearts of society leaders are open to them, 
and so into the worldly vortex the unsuspecting and 
the wayfaring fall every year, everywhere. 

The lodge, the great political parties, worldly 
amusements, 'and methods of raising church money, 
lead millions from the true life of separation from 
the world. 

A few general principles may he laid down in reg- 
ulating our associations as Christians. 

GRAPES AND THORNS. 

First: One cannot be a Christian and a world- 
ling at the same time. There should be a line of de- 
marcation 'between the church and the world. The 
world expects more of a Christian than a nonChris- 
tian. 

Second : The standard iset for the church 'by the 
world is high. When the child of God comes down 
to the level o-f the world in its pleasures, the world is 
surprised and says: "We didn't expect it; we did 
not think it," and they lose confidence in his pro- 
fession, and he will lose influence. 

Third : The example of the Christian ought to be 
safe for any one to follow. If he compromises the 



108 A Message for You. 

world says, ^'What is the difference ibetween the 
church and the world, and why should I become a 
Christian? It is just a form, and I don't care for 
1)he mere form ; it can do me no good. I will not be a 
hypocrite." 

OIL AND WATER WON't MIX. 

Fourth: If my engagements lead me from God, 
give me a distaste for the word, make prayer more 
irksome, and leave my conscience at unrest, I should 
change my course. 

Fifth : If a person must say, ' ' My associations are 
such that I had 'better not let it be known that I am 
a Christian," he is in the wrong place, and his asso- 
'ciations are wrong. We are to ' ' let our light shine, ' ' 
and not "hide it under a bushel." We are to avoid 
the appearance of evil. 

Much as fhe modern church would mingle all class- 
es of society, and much as men would destroy moral 
distinctions, there is, forever, a difference between 
•the Christian and the sinner. The Christian life 
is a iseparated life. It has always 'been so, and will 
always be so. 

I WILL RECEIVE YOU. 

The promise of those who separate themselves 
from the world, ithe devil and wicked things in busi- 
ness, society, and politics, is, *'I will receive you." 

There are many members of the church doubting 
their acceptance with God. "Am I saved, or am I 
not?" is their 'constant plea before God. Their 



A Message for You. 109 

trouble is, they are encumbered with evil associations 
and worldly alliances. They violate the commands 
of God ; they -do despite to their conscience, and the 
plain word of God, and spend much time in excusing 
themselves. But if they made no excuse but obeyed 
the word of God and consented to be separate 
from the world, the promise is, "I will receive you.'' 
"I will he a father unto you." He will adopt those 
who come out from the wicked world into his own 
family, and they will feel the isweetness of being a 
member 'of the household of faith. He says, ''I will 
dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their 
■God, and they shall be my people." 



110 A Message for You. 

CHAPTIER XVI. 
THE SEICKiET OiF SiPIEiITUAL POWEK. 

"Electricity is an immense power; yet who can tell what 
it is, where it is, where it springs from? God has wrapped 
it up in everything around us. . . , May it not be an illus- 
tration of how spiritual influences may come down and be 
with us; that they may have great power, which, if prop- 
erly applied, might transform our natures-,*'" 

— Bishop Simpson. 

Some members of the dhurch. have power. They 
have victory over the world, the flesh an'd the devil. 
Their temper is under control. They are patient in 
tribulaition. They "rejoice evermore, and in every- 
thing give thanks.'' And marvel of marvels, they 
extract gain out of loss and turn the trials of life into 
heavenly treasure. 

WEAK CHRISTIANS. 

Others who have faith in Christ are weak. They 
are children of Grod, but they are weak people, child- 
ren of small faith, and small effort, and small suc- 
cess. They easily stumble, and often fall. Their 
fits of temper discourage them and weaken their 
Christian influence. They are bothered with doubts 
and fears, and 'are often overcome. Their peace is 
much disturibed by the petty annoyances of life. So 
weak is their faith that they often doubt whether 
they are Christians. And such is their lives that 
when they do not doubt others do. 



A Message for You. Ill 

Wiien one looks ^at the lives of professing Ohris- 
•tians, lie asks, "Does the life of defeat please 
God? Are fits of temper a necessity? Does 
failure to measure up to the divine standard glorify 
God?'' 

SECRET POWER. 

Thank God, there is power for God's believing 
children. There is power to live right; God gives 
his children power to rejoice; to be overcomers; to 
be more than victors through Him that hath loved us. 

It is written, "He that dwelleth in the secret place 
of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the 
Almighty." There is a secret place of protection 
under God's shadow. And Jesus said, "Ye shall 
receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come 
upon you." 

The disciples were to receive an enduement of 
power from on high that would make the rash and 
cowardly Peter firm as a rock, so that he would nev- 
ermore waver; that would transform the doubting 
Thomas into a constant believer ; that would change 
the ambition of John and James after position into 
•a desire to suffer and be like their Lord, and make 
each of the apostles an invincible. 

G0D''S HIDDEN ONES. 

The same power abides in the church and is for 
each 'of God's children. It is written, "Thou hast 
hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast 
revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father; for so 
it seemed good in thy sight. ' ' Luke 10 :21. 



112 A Message for You. 

There are eonditions of power to which I call at- 
tention : 

There must he a disregard of self. He who would 
have power with God and men must deny himself. 
He must be willing to do Grod's will at any cost. 
He must consent to success or failure. He may see 
his plans miscarry, and must learn to say, amidst 
the wreck of disappointed hopes, ''not self but 
Christ. Thy will, not mine 'be done.*' 

NOT SELF BUT CHRIST. 

He must die to his own opinions and preferences 
and prejudices. This kind of self-denial made Lu- 
ther the mighty power of the Reformation, and the 
prayers of John Knox to 'be dreaded ^hy Mary Queen 
of iScotts. Wesley and his 'coadjutors changed 
the fashion of society in their day. Bishop Taylor 
was a power in every land in which he preached and 
established missions. These all said by their lives, 
''not I, but Christ." 

IN" HIS STEPS. 

He who would have power with God must not de- 
mand to know the consequence of doing God's will. 

iMr. Sheldon's book, "In His Steps," is founded 
upon the thought, "What Would Jesus Do?" If 
•one were an educator, business man, farmer, house- 
keeper, or politician, the question in every course 
of conduct would be, "What would Jesus do?" 
When a person who would follow Jesus has decided 
w*hat is right and what Jesus would do under the 



A Message for You. . 113 

circumstances, lie thas nothing left liim but to follow 
his convictions of duty without regard to fhe results. 
God will take care of his life and the consequences 
of his decisions and lalbors. 

SEEMING FAILURE. 

He must consent to seeming failure. I say seem- 
ing failure, for the reason that one who follows God 
cannot really fail. Luther's life mi^ht be counted 
a failure by the church of his day, but he lives in 
millions of hearts. Wesley mig^ht be hissed at by the 
estaiblished church; but the shadowy Wesley lives 
more than w'hen he walked the earth. George Mul- 
ler, of Bristol, Eng., might be called fanatic but his 
life proved that the living God hears and answers 
prayer, today, as in the days of the apostles. And 
Bishop Taylor may be said to have thrown away 
his lalbors upon an ignorant and debased race, but a 
thousand missionaries will arise to carry forward the 
work in darkest Africa. 

The three Hebrew children, being dead yet speak. 
In the midst of seeming failure they were abundant- 
ly successful. Their lives were too large to be un- 
derstood •hy their countrymen, or the age in which 
they lived. After 2,500 years they look bigger than 
the king before whom they refused to bow. 

THE HOLY SPIRIT AT WORK. 

He who would have power with God must recog- 
nize the presence of the Holy Spirit. He must have 
faith that the Holy Spirit is working. In the mes- 



114 A Message for You. 

sage that he delivers lie must believe that the Holy 
Spirit is operating upon the hearts of the people, and 
bringing results to pass. By faith he will know^ that 
iGrod is using His own truth in His own way, for His 
word says, *'My word shall not return unto me void, 
but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it 
shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. ' ' 

PRAYER BRINGS POWER. 

Men of power are always men iof prayer. They 
may differ in other things, but they are alike in 
this: They pray much. Jesus spent all night in 
prayer. He would go apart in a mountain place, or 
desert waste, away from the crowd, to pray. 

The apostle were men of prayer. Prayer was 
their migihty power, their great weapon. It has been 
true of all men of Grod that they have prevailed 
with Him in prayer, from the earliest ages down to 
the present time. There is no easy way to the ob- 
tainment of power; it costs mightily; it means sacri- 
fice and labor to receive and retain. There is no 
cheap way to the throne. It is by overcoming pray- 
er that we become mighty conquerors. 

HOLY SPIRIT POWER. 

Jesus said, *'Ye shall receive power after the Holy 
'Grhost is come upon you ; and ye shall be witnesses 
unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in 
iSamaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. ' ' 

He who would have power must consent to receive 
his pentecost. This is the work of the Holy Spirit 



A Message for You. 115 

wroug'lit upon the believer *s heart. It is not the in- 
itial work of salvation, but a subsequent work of 
self crucifixion, -and renewal in the Holy Ghost. 

It is the cleansing work wrought in the believer's 
heart, purifying him from ' ' the last and least remains 
•of sin," from the carnal mind, cleansing him from 
pride and covetousness, and willfulness and slothful- 
ness of spirit, and those traits of evil that in- 
here in every believer who has not enjoyed the 
deeper, second work of grace, wrought by the Holy 
Ohost. 

Oh! that each of us might yield himself to God, 
and so devote every power of our being to Him that 
He might fill us with all the fullness of God, and 
endue us with power to live, labor and suffer for 
His glory. 



116 A Message for You. 

CHAPTEE XVII. 

TWO MEiN. 

"Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not" 

—Bible. 

There were itwo great men, widely known and of 
coimmanding influence in their spheres as leaders of 
men, 

One, a great 'orator, was a leader in his political 
party, and high in national office. 

The other was a leader in special Christian work, a 
fine preacher and author of spiritual hooks, a success 
in his chosen field. 

These men were honored guests in a Christian 
home of one who had known them in other years as 
college classmates. They enjoyed the hospitality 
of the home at different times. 

After their entertainment the husband asked his 
wife, "Of all preachers that you ever heard which 
one impressed you most, and to which would you 
rather listen?" She replied, ''Colonel Blank." 
*'That is just what I was thinking," he replied. 

''And of all the persons w^hom we have enter- 
tained in our home the past year whom did you 
most enjoy?" iShe again replied, "I believe Colo- 
nel Blank," "And so it seems to me," answered the 
husband. 

To a friend this lady said, "the Senator is a perfect 
gentleman. It is an honor to have him in the home. 



A Message for You. 117 

Pleasant to entertain, a fine conversationalist, he in- 
terested us in the distinguished persons he had met 
and the countries in which he had traveled. 

FOR HIMSELF. 

''I remem'ber that as a student he would be 'absorl)- 
ed for days in preparation for an essay, oration or 
some important event in college life. He was fairly 
intoxicated in preparation for the occasion. But he 
impressed us that his great efforts were for himself. 
His study, learning and ambition centered in his own 
life. It was that he might he great, gain applause, 
win position, be something or do something to at- 
tract attention to himself. His whole life was for 
self. Thus he impressed us." 

"But he is an excellent man. He has a fine mind, 
his attainments are remarkable and his success is 
phenomenal. 



>> 



A DIFFERENT TYPE. 

"But my other classmate, he who threw himself 
SLWRy, as we feared, by joining the Salvation Army, 
was equally refined. He, too, commanded respect by 
what he had done. He had traveled widely, was 
scholarly, and as brilliant as our other friend. But 
he was a different type of man. 

When he left college he married a wife who be- 
came deeply interested in the Salvation Army. This 
touched his heart with sympathy for the poor, help- 
less and distressed, and led him to devote his life to 
this self-sacrificing form of Christian service. 



118 A Message for You. 

Everything Sibout the Army makes him a marked 
man. Uniform, Army regulations, open air services, 
noise of dram and horn to attract the crowd, all 
stamp him, and set him off from men to do very 
huimble work for the Master and those who lare the 
least of the kingdom. 

His presence in our home made a distinct im- 
pression. He created an atmosphere so different 
from that of our other classmate, the distinguished 
statesman. 

They are professing Christians. But one was 
marked 'by his respect for 'Christianity. The other 
had the spirit of the Master. One tipped his hat 
most respectfully to Christianity as to something 
very superior though impossible of attainment. The 
other embraced the life of Christ. To him it was 
real. It was his life. 

The one hesitated, was uncertain. If he made a 
postitive statement about 'Christianity or duty 
he might apologize by saying, ''but I am not relig- 
ious; I only wish that I was." He was like the 
rich young man of the Bible who came kneeling and 
worshipping Jesus, and saying, ''Grood Master, what 
good thing shall I do that I may 'have . eternal life?" 
When Jesus told him the law, he hopelessly replied, 
''All these things have I kept from jny youth up. 
What lack I yet?" He felt a need which all of his 
religiousness did not supply. 

Jesus then thrust the sword of truth into his very 
heart w^hen he discerned that his native selfishness 



A Message for You. 110 

had never been removed, by answering, ''If thou 
wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast and give 
to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, 
and come and follow me. " 

"When the young man heard that saying he went 
away sorrowful : for he had great possessions. ' ^ 

So our young man exalted in church and state car- 
ried a burden of fear and doubt which his clean life, 
and high ideals and much service did not remove. 

The other so fully given up to Ood and the service 
■of his fellowman seemed free as a bird. I believe 
that he could truly sing: 

"I know not What it is to doubt 
My heart is always free." 

SELF OR CHEIST. 

These men represent types of character. We see 
them about us. We belong to one of these classes. 

We are self -living or living for others; self-cen- 
tered or iChrist-e entered, living for God or mam- 
mon. We cannot be both. We eannot live for both. 
"Ye cannot serve Ood and mammon." 

Life may not be vulgar and low, but refined and 
high. We may be refinedly selfish or eoarsely self- 
ish. But whether fine or coarse if self-centered, its 
essence is one. It is of this world, not of Ohrist.It 
is godless. 

Self love is a master motive in the lives of many 
high up in church. Self first is the motto. "The oth- 
er fellow must care for himself. I have neither time, 



120 A Message for You. 

disposition nor strength to look out for him. That's 
his 'business. He is not looking out for me, and so 
we ar^ even. I hope that he may make it all right. 
I '11 get there if I can. ' ' 

Self love is natural, hut to love others, our neig^h- 
'bors and enemies, is Ohristlike. Self and Christ are 
in conflict. They are at antipodes. 

iSelf forgetfulness is opposed to natural self love. 
iSelf crucifixion and iself seeking are not one. They 
do not walk together. They cannot keep step. Per- 
isonal ambition is the worm at the root of many a 
drooping Christian plant. 

The choice of life is before every man. Shall he 
seek riches, a life of pleasure, a name among men, 
and position? Or shall he hear the call of Ood to 
live for others ? Which life is worth while ? 

;rHE WORLD BEAUTIFUL. 

The late Phillips Brooks says : ' ' There will come 
to every manly man times in his life when he will see 
that there is something which is legitimately his, 
something which he has a right to, something Which 
nobody ean blame him if he takes and enjoys to the 
fullest, and yet something by whose voluntary and 
uncompelled surrender he can help his fellow-man 
and aid the work of Christ and make the world bet- 
ter. 

COMMON" PLACE PEOPLE. 

If he fails and cannot make the sacrifice nobody 



A Message for You. 121 

-will blame him; lie will simply sink into the great 
multitude of honorable, respectable, self-indulgent 
people who take the comfortable things which every- 
'body owns they are entitled to, and live their easy 
life without a question. But if he is of better stuff, 
•and makes the renunciation of comfort for a higher 
work then he goes up and stands — ^humbly, but real- 
ly — with Jesus Christ. He enters into the other 
range, that other sort of life where Jesus Christ 
lived. He is perfectly satisfied with that higher life. 
He does not envy, he does not grudge, the self-indul- 
gent lives which he has left hehind. He does not 
count up what he has lost ; he does not ask whether 
he is happier or less happy than he would have 'been 
if he had kept what everybody says he had a right 
to keep. It is not a question of happiness with him 
■at all, 'but gradually, without his seeking, he finds 
that the soul of happiness which he has left behind 
him is in him still. Like fountains of sweet water in 
the sea it rises and keeps him a living soul. He 
has left the world's pleasures and its privileges only 
to draw nearer to its necessities, which are its real 
life. 'So what he gave he keeps a thousandfold in 
this present time, and eternity is still before him in 
the end everlasting life." 



122 A Message for You. 

CHAPTElE XVIII. 
DYING TO SEQLiF. 

"There was a day when I died, utterly died; died' to 
George Mueller, his opinions, preferences, tas^tes, and will; 
died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the 
blame or approval of brothers and friends; and since then 
I have studied only to show myself approved unto God.'" 
. . . . My whole life is one service for God." 

— Mueller. 

*' Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and 
die, it a'bideth by itself alone ; hut if it die, it beareth 
much fruit. ' ' John 12 :24. 

I can imagine the little seed saying, "Oh! I want 
to be fruitful, I want to multiply, I would be thirty 
times, sixty times, or a hundred times as many as I 
am.' Then, says the Creator, "my little seed you 
must die to live again." 

DIE TO LIVE. 

*'0h, how anxious I am for f ruitfulness, " says the 
little seed. "Then you must die," says the Creator. 
"But I fear death. I shall lose my shining coat. 
Going into the e^arth I must go into decay, be cov- 
ered far from the sun. Possibly the worms will eat 
■me, and I will be lost forever. How do I know that 
I shall live and multiply? If I knew that I would he 
willing to die, but how do I know I shall pass safely 
through the ordeal of death?" The Creator says, 
"My little seed you must die." There is no way ex- 



A Message for You. 123 

cept the one universal lot. To 'be fruitful all must 
die. 

THE PYRAMIDS OF EGYPT. 

A few grains of wtieat found in one of the pyra- 
mids of Egypt years -ago had heen hidderi in those 
piles of rock for thousands of years. They did not 
die, neither were they fruitful. They abode alone. 
They continued as they were from the beginning. 
Every grain was whole, entire, perfect. This is not 
speculation, for when they were planted in the earth 
they grew as other grain grows. 

iSo the child of Ood looks forward to a life of en- 
tire consecration and abundant fruitfulness. He 
yearns for power, for victory over the world, the 
flesh 'and the devil, hut la voice w^hispers in his in- 
most soul, "You must pay the price for purity and 
power. You must idie to sin and self if you would 
know the power of the resurrection life. '* The apos- 
tle says, ' ' Reckon ye yourselves to be dead unto sin, 
but alive unto Ood through Jesus iChrist our Lord. ' ' 

IT IS HAED TO DIE TO SIN. 

The c^hild of Grod with deep yearning of soul cries, 
"Oh! I do so much want power. I would give any- 
thing for power. My best actions are so weak and 
full of self and sin." "Then,"' says the voice divine, 
"You must die if you would have power." But, 
"oh," cries the child of God. "I shrink from the 
thought of death. OEIow do I really know that I shall 
ever live? If I could he sure that I would pass 



124 A Message for You. 

through the portals of death unhurt, and come forth 
to multiply 'my influence and power in service for 
Ood and humanity, I could endure the thought, hut 
what might happen? I might be forgotten, he anni- 
hilated, fail, entirely fail. I cannot die." 

And thus the hest men and women of the church 
fail of the richest 'and deepest hlessings iand fruit- 
fulness, and the life more abundant. 

How many go to altars of consecration year after 
year. They sing, 

''Here I give myself to Thee, 

Friends and time and earthly store, 

Soul and body thine to be, 
Wholly thine f orevermore. " 

DENYING THE POWER. 

And they turn away like the rich young ruler in 
gospel times, disappointed, feeling that religion is 
more a shadow than a reality, a ceremony rather 
than a power, more a sorrow than a joy. 

Thus multitudes have the form but deny the pow- 
er of godliness. They seek pleasure in the world and 
regard religion as something to be dreaded, but 
something that all must have as 'an insurance against 
fire. 

COST OF DISCIPLESHIP. 

Why this unsatisfactory condition? This loss? 
This unfruitfulness ? This waste of human life ? This 
failure to realize the heart's desires? 

Because men come up to the eonditions of disciple- 



A Message for You. 125 

ship and fail to meet them. ''Except a man deny 
himself, take up his cross daily, he cannot be my dis- 
ciple. " ''Except a man hate (love with a less love) 
his father and his mother, sisters ^and 'brothers, hous- 
es and lands, yea and his own life also, he cannot be 
my disciple." 

CAN^T JEW GOD DOWN. 

If power might be had at less cost, at less sacrifice 
than death, multitudes who now have hungry hearts 
and are yearning for it, would soon be in possession 
of the "pearl of great price." But it costs their 
lives, land they are unwilling to pay the price — ^they 
are unwilling to die. They would give a vast amount 
of m'oney ; they would make long pilgrimages ; they 
would study hard; they would say prayers; but to 
die to sin and self, that means so much that few are 
willing to pay the price. 

And thus multitudes of good, ordinary people in 
the church live a life of sense unable to live a life of 
faith. 'They are unwilling to die that they might 
live the life more abundant. 



126 A Message for You. 

'OEOAPTEK XIX. 

SIEOLF CIOl^TEiOI^. 

"Not in the clamor of the crowded street, 

Not in the plaudits of the throng, 

But in ourselves, are triumph and defeat." 

— Longfellow. 

A 'general may lead armies through hlood to vic- 
tory, iscale walls and unfurl his flag over cities which 
he has conquered. His deeds of valor may he her- 
alded through the press and his praise ibe upon many 
tongues, and he he a mean, weak, despicable charac- 
ter, the slave of jealousy, malice and every evil and 
hurtful lust. 

It was a great resolve of Geothe: ''I will be lord 
over myself." A preacher passing through trying 
oircumstances long continued, pulblicly said: "I will 
he a king, I will be a king." He had power to elect 
himself to kingly self-control and no power could de- 
feat or dethrone him. But Paul spoke not a resolu- 
tion, but a fact in the utterance, ''I keep my body 
under." '*He that ruleth his spirit is greater than 
he that taketh a city. ' ' 

A WEAK EMPEROR. 

It is said that Peter The Oreat struck his gardener, 
for some trivial offence, so severely that he took to 
his hed and died. When the sovereign learned the 
result he hroke down and wept, i^aying, *'Alas, I have 



A Message for You. 127 

<3ivilized my own subjects; I have conquered other 
nations; yet I have not been able to civilize or to 
conquer myself." Poor slave, it was easier to be 
violent and reckless than to master himself. We can 
all sympathize with him. 

QUIETNESS IS POWER. 

Self-control is streng-th; its lack is weakness. "Gi- 
ants only can afford to be gentle." We feel that 
we are lacking in spirit if we do not speak back and 
by a resolute course break down opposition. The 
provoked spirit manifests weakness in the higher 
faculties. Quietness and gentleness like the laws of 
light and heat, do not announce themselves, but they 
are irresistible. 

ANGER IS TEMPORARY INSANITY. 

Anger has been called short madness. It is tem- 
porary insanity. It dethrones reason and the bet- 
ter judgment. A violently angry man acts like an 
insane man. If he continues in that way he will 
be permanently of unbalanced mind. People treat 
him like an unbalanced man. They get out of the 
way of his fury, take him in charge, repress him, or 
knock him down. 

One in a passion acts without thought or reason. 
How else can we account for the deeds of an angry 
man? He will do in an instant what he Avould give 
the w^orld to have undone. The word has been 
spoken; the act committed that works his undoing 
and irretrievable mischief. 



128 A Message for You. 

THE BOY LEAENED SELF MASTERY. 

A ge'ntleman told the writer that 'when he was a 
'boy he had a violent temper and would throw stones 
at boys with vicious intent. One day after having 
been in a rage, his mother took him aside and showed 
him the danger of a violent temper. She told him 
that his angry passions would increase in power if 
yielded to. Sometime when angry and throwing 
istones he might put out a boy's eye, cripple, or even 
kill him. He might then be arrested, sent to the 
penitentiary or hanged. She urged him to control 
himself. 

The impression made upon his young heart was 
such that he laid aside anger as a ruling passion. 
He put it away from hdm, and isaid that in all the 
years afterwards he had never Ibeen angry. 

His experience was the fulfillment of a known law ; 
That what we put away, God takes away. 

KINGLY SELE CONTROL. 

A man w^ho says that he cannot control his dispo- 
sition has not dealt thoroughly with himself. When 
he does he will succeed. Victory is a question of 
will. Ood is ready to help. He does not intend 
His children to be slaves. We are to be a race of 
Kings and Priests unto Grod. We are called to lib- 
erty. But the price must be paid. We are called 
to the largest manhood. But manhood costs more 
than the building of any earthly temple. 



A Message for Yov. 129 

A WELL BALANCED LIFE. 

All natural desires are to be subject to the law of 
self-control. We may eat but not to gluttony. 
Struggle for gain may consist with freedom from 
covetousness. A soul without (temper is without 
energy. But temper may exist without sinful an- 
ger. Love may fill the soul without the presence of 
lust. In the struggle of life we 'may seek position 
without improper self seeking, which is selfishness. 
A brave soul need not be cruel; neither a tender 
heart weak. A proper estimate of one's abilities, 
native and acquired, are not to be confounded with 
vanity. 

Our bodies are to be temples of the Holy Ghost, 
and living sacrifices, wholly acceptable to God. To 
present them to Him and keep them holy is our rea- 
sonable service. The use of narcotics violates the 
law of self mastery. These stimulate and poison the 
blood and enfeeble the powers of body and S'oul. 
Gluttony is slavery of soul and body, and is the cause 
of the backslider's condition of multitudes of 
professing Christians. 

THOUGHT CO^^TROL MEANS LIFE CONTEOL. 

He alone who can control his thoughts is capable 
of self-control. Men srj, "We cannot control our 
thoughts. They come and go like the wind. There 
ds no accounting for one's thoughts. We cannot tell 
what we will think. Nor are we responsible for the 
vagaries of our minds." 



130 A Message for You. 

But we recognize the need of controlling our outer 
lives. If we do not, society supplies our want of 
control. 

Remember, we first think, then speak. Back of 
every act is the will. Before a man commits murder 
he thinks murder. The will to lust precedes the act 
of lust. **He that looketh upon a woman to lust 
after her hath committed adultery with her already 
in his heart." 

The Divine Word is eternally true — ''As he think- 
eth in his heart, so is he. ' ' And, ' ' Out of the ahun- 
dance of the heart the mouth speaketh." 

When men do not control their thoughts, their 
speech 'betrays them. We live at loose ends because 
we think at random. Crooked thinking results in 
crooked paths and develops warped lives. We are 
what wc think. 

This splendid virtue ds as the girdle with which 
the ancients bound all their loose flowing robes to- 
gether. It makes the whole character a unit of 
strength and beauty. 



A Message for You. 131 

CHAPfTEK XX. 
VICTORY. 

'"faith is the victory/' 

"The people that do know their God shall be strong, 
and do exploits." — Bible. 

*^Self mastery is good. Olirist mastery is better.'* 
He who leaves Grod out of Ms life will never realize 
the highest results in keeping his ''body under" and 
ruling his spirit. 

Mere morality is superficial. It has much to do 
with outer acts and words. It is concerned with ap- 
pearances, with what men think, and questions of 
reputation and success rather than the vital one of 
character. 

RECEIVE WHILE YOU ASK. 

F. B. Meyer 'writes with the enthusiasm of one 
who had discovered a new truth : 

*^It was first taught me by a gray-haired clergy- 
man in the study of the Deanery, at iSouthampton. 
Once when tempted to feel great irritation, he told 
us that he looked up and claimed the patience and 
gentleness of Christ ; and since then it has become the 
practice of his life to claim from him the virtue, of 
which he felt the deficiency in himself. In hours of 
unrest, 'thy peace. Lord.' In hours of irritation, 
'Thy patience, Lord.' In hours of irritation, 
'Thy purity. Lord.' In hours of weakness, 'Thy 



132 A Message forYou. 

strengt'li, Lord.' It was to me a message straigM 
from the throne. Till then I had heen content with 
ridding myiself of hurdens: now I hegan to reach 
forth to positive blessings, making each temptation, 
the occasion for the acquisition of gold leaf.'* 

STOOP TO CONQUER. 

My scrap book furnishes an article from an un- 
kno'wn writer w'hich lays out a program of conquest 
over self that will give the reader, I am sure, a life 's 
task. It goes into the very heart of true religion. 
These words will bear frequent readings, much pray- 
er and practice every day : 

''When you are forgotten, or neglected, or pur- 
posely set at naught, and you smile inwardly, glory- 
ing in the insult or the oversight — ^that is victory. 

ARE YOU SOUND? 

''When your good is evil spoken of, when your 
wishes are crossed, your tastes offended, your advice 
disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you take 
it all in patient, loving silence — that is victory. 

FACE YOURSELF. 

"When you are content with any food, any rai- 
ment, any climate, any society, any solitude, and in- 
terruption — that is victory. 

"When you can bear with lany discord, and an- 
noyance, any irregularity, unpunctuality (of which 
you are not the cause) — ^that is victory. 

"When you can stand face to face with folly, ex- 



A Message for You. 133 

travagance, spiritual- insensibility, contradiction of 
sinners, persecution, and endure it all as Jesus en- 
dured it — that is victory. 

*' Wlien you never care to refer to yourself in con- 
versation nor to record your good works, nor to seek 
after commendation, when you can truly 'love to be 
unknown' — that is victory." 



134 A Message for You. 

ClHAiPTiEK XXI. 
FAMILY REILIGfl[OiN. 

"Christ is the head of this house; 

The unseen guest at every meal; 

The silent listener to every conversation." 

A small proportion of professdng lOhristians have 
daily 'family worship. I have visited hundreds of 
homes and find general neglect of home religion. The 
family altar is passing. Family worship was more 
prevalent a generation ago. 

Is there excnse for the neglect of this important 
dnty? We say there is no time. No one in the fam- 
ily can pray. There is opposition. Family prayer 
is old-fashioned. It is not generally practiced by 
church members. 

Five or ten minutes daily are not much time to 
give to the recognition of family blessings. It is an 
important duty and can be done. If one prays in 
private he can pray in the family. At least the a^bil- 
ity to pray can be acquired. He who can talk can 
pray. He who wills can pray. ''Where your treas- 
ure is, there will your heart be also.'' ''Out of the 
abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." 

Parents have their duty to perform whatever the 
difficulties. They are to command their households. 
They are responsible for their families. 

Neglect of family prayer indicates relaxed family 



A Message for You. 135 

government, a yielding to worldly influence and a 
general lack of the spirit of self-denial. 

PURPOSE OF THE FAMILY. 

Ood instituted the family that a godly seed might 
be brought up. 

The duty of parents is to feed, clothe and educate 
their ehildren. But this does not measure their 
whole responsibility. They are also to bring their 
children up in the nurture and admonition of the 
Lord. There is a hunger of soul as well as of body. 
There is ''the bread of life" as well as ''the meat 
that perishes. ' ' 

With the passing of the family altar some other 
things are noticeable : 

A shortage in the supply of -candidates for the 
ministry, decreased spiritu^ality in the church which 
affects the ministry as well as the laity. A flood 
tide of worldliness inundates Zion. May we trace 
the state of the church and the ministry to the de- 
cayed family altar? What the family life is the 
church will be. Parents are the first Priests. 

With "the church in the house" there will always 
be those in the church who will have right ideals and 
Bible eonviction of what the Christian life is. And 
there will be hunger for Ood, which will not be satis- 
fied with chaff or substitutes for holiness. 

CONVERTS FROM CHRISTIAN HOMES. 

More additions to the church of such as shall be 
saved come from Christian families who observe 



136 A Message for You. 

family worsliip than from professors of religion who 
d'o not observe this form of religion. 

The convert will count the cost of the Christian 
life, fewer will 'backslide and make shipwreck of 
faith, and more will develop into consistent working 
members of the church than of those who do not 
have daily samples of Christianity in the home. The 
family altar is a training school. 

A RIGHT LIFE. 

Family worship is a bright spot in a child's life. 
He will look back to those days as a blessed memory 
of happy childhood. Many forms and faces of child- 
hood days will be forgotten, but the scene of father 
and mother reading the Bible and commending the 
family to God can never be effaced from memory. 
The family altar will atone for many faults of the 
home life and will do more than ean be estimated to 
make for a right life. 

Often children will show evidence of the strange- 
ness of the exercise of prayer. And parents who 
are strangers to home worship will be awkward when 
prayer is conducted in the family. 

A CITY SET UPON A HILL. 

A home that has family worship is marked. The 
fact is known far and wide, and the influence for 
good is felt. Such a home is "like a city set upon 
a hill which eannot be hid. '' If the inmates are eon- 
sistent in their lives, home religion will add greatly 
to their 'Christian influence. 



A Message for You. 137 

''sound thrashings/' 

1 

Dr. Talmage says, ''No child ever gets over having 
heard parents praying for him. I had many sound 
thrashings when I was a boy ; but the most memora- 
ble scene in my childhood was father and mother at 
morning and evening prayers. Your son may go to 
the ends of the earth, and run through the ^hole cat- 
alogue of transgression, but he will remem'ber the 
family altar, and it will be a check, and a call, and 
perhaps his redemption." 

It is estimated that we have nineteen million Pro- 
testant church members in this country. Estimating 
five persons to a family will give about four million 
homes of professing Christians. Some count that 
one family in eight recognize God in family worship. 
I am sure that estimate is too high. Suppose four 
million homes in the church had devout worship 
every day, what would that mean for righteousness 
in the nation? What would it mean for millions of 
children who are to be the church of tomorrow? 
"What would it mean for a general revival of religion 
among the people? 

Is your house a house of prayer? 



138 A Message for You. 

OHAPTEK XXII. 

OHRISTlLAjISrS AJN'D POiPUlUAlU 'i^MflT'SIEM'iEiNTS. 

"My son, would you judge of the lawlessness of any 
proposed pleasure, take this rule: whatever weakens your 
reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, ob- 
scures your sense of God, or takes off your relish for spir- 
itual things; whatever increases the authority of your 
body over your mind, that pleasure, to you, is sin." — Su- 
sannah Wesley, (to her son John when he was in college). 

THE TPIEATEE. 

The church, as a body, is opposed to the drama. 
The reasons are in general well known. They have 
been stated and restated from generation to genera- 
tion. The stage has a history. As lan institution it 
has not 'been favorable to a spiritual religion. There 
have 'been efforts to unite the church and the play- 
house to fight, side by side, as brothers, the world, 
the flc'^h and the devil. But all such attempts have 
proven a failure. A high moral drama fails to draw 
the crowds and pay expenses. The theater, today, 
retains its old 'Characteristics of a merely worldly 
amusement. The church to 'be a spiritual power 
among men must stand in opposition to every evil, 
including also this insidious worldly attraction. 

I lam not now writing for non-Ohristians, nor from 
the standpoint of the world, nor in the interest of 
worldly people. They may not ^be moved by my ar- 
guments, but may explain them away to their satis- 
faction and have the last word. But I trust that ev- 



A Message for You. 139 

ery child of G-od who reads these pages will he affect- 
ed by the experience of the Baptist minister ^and his 
wife who faced the question of theater going from a 
new and practical point. Their son '^returned from 
school one day with the announcement that his teach- 
er wished him to attend one of the plays of Shakes- 
peare, which he was studying in his English course,'' 

They then determined to witness the best perform- 
ances of the stage that they might properly 
advise their son ^and know whereof they 
spoke. They had observed that there was a 
''decided change of sentiment" and a large- 
ly increased lattendance upon the theater by 
ehurch people. It was also eurrently reported that 
the stage had improved and did not occupy the low 
moral plane that it did a generation ago. And so the 
old arguments against it were no longer in force. 

They desired also to overcome the usual objection 
of those who oppose the theater: ''You eondemn 
what you do not know. Why do you not see for 
yourself and speak from personal knowledge." 

The words of this Christian man who signs himself 
"An Inquirer," in "The Watchman," is the best ar- 
gument which I can offer to Christian people who 
desire in all things to glorify God. 

A SENSITIVE CONSCIENCE. 

"After earnest prayer my wife and I decided to 
elimb over the fence and have a look at this thing 
for ourselves. We resolved to study the actual eon- 
conditions as they existed, 'by attending representa- 



1-iO A Message for You. 

tive plays. At first we were attracted ; fhen repell- 
ed. We saw several unobjectionable plays and then 
'Ot-hers which were more or less tainted with evil. So 
we dropped the i^hole thing in dismay for a few 
months. But then tried it again. There was much 
that was fascinating and helpful. But too often 
something, perhaps only a slight thing, would elash 
with our ideas of right, and would leave us dissatis- 
fied. We were often unaccountably depressed after 
going to the theater without apparent immediate 
cause. We would attribute this as a possible result of 
iour early training. (Thank 'Grod for that training.) 

"Aud so we continued to study the matter valiant- 
ly. We saw many of the leading plays and operas, 
good, bad, and indifferent. We read everything that 
we could find upon the subject. We talked with ma- 
ny who had opinions. We interviewed several prom- 
inent actors. On one or two occasions, with a cler- 
gyman friend, I went 'behind the scenes. ' We learn- 
ed a good deal. We had many moments when we 
abhorred the whole thing, and we were strongly in- 
clined to abandon our investigation. 

'"Somehow, we were usually more or less heavy at 
heart on returning from a play. The sight of the 
pure and good faces, for instance, of some Salvation 
Army lasses, would give us a sort of pang. At such 
times I could not seem to feel my wonted grip upon 
my Bible or upon prayer. The old hymns did not 
stir me quite as before. Then we would conclude 
that it was because we were trying to change a life 



A Message for You. 141 

habit and that we were a wee 'bit 'mor<bid.' So we 
would start again and use more caution in the select- 
ion of the thoroughly 'good' play. 

THE FASCINATION OF THE STAGE. 

*'It seems strange now, very strange, that it took 
us so long to find out G-od's will. We prayed and 
prayed about the matter and were deeply conscien- 
tious, so we thought. I suppose that one difficulty 
had intruded itself in our search for the wisest 
course. We were unquestionably charmed and held 
fast by certain great and many really admirable 
things that we had seen. We were now not impar- 
tial students, for we wanted to go, and realized that 
it was going to cost a struggle to give it up. It was 
to us a very attractive form of entertainment and in- 
struction, if we could only avoid certain objectiona- 
ble features that stained so many of the plays, and 
this it still seemed possible to do. 

A TINGE OF EVIL SUGGESTION. 

*'And so we found ourselves almost irresistibly 
drawn toward it again. Specious arguments filled 
our minds and seemed for a time plausible ; and yet 
I would sometimes say, 'It seems as if my feet were 
caught in a net.' G-od was patient and gentle with 
us, however. I can never be thankful enough for his 
leading. We gradually felt ourselves more and 
more inclined to abandon the venture and to return 
to our old position. Too many of the best plays and 
operas, even Shakespeare's, were streaked here and 



142 A Message for You. 

there with something suggestive, if not openly and 
boldly vicious. No argument can explain this fact 
away. Still we needed some decisive experience that 
would be wholly convincing and forever settle our 
questioning.'' 

**That 'decisive experience' came with witnessing 
la performance of 'The Devil/ the play by the Hun- 
garian Ferenc Molnar. The writer went to 
hear Mr. John Craig, an actor, address the 
Boston Ministers' Meeting. This address oc- 
curred in the course of several presented to 
this organization bearing the message from other 
professions of the kind of sermons that each liked to 
hear. Mr. Craig, of course, spoke for the actors. 'He 
made a pleasant address,' 'in which he avoided vital 
issues and evaded some pointed questions which were 
asked him. ' ' When Mr. Craig 's ' work and the play 
in which he was then acting were extolled by one of 
the ministers whom we trust and honor,' and the 
landience then 'were all advised to witness the per- 
formance,' the writer and his wife went to see the 
play. 

DANGEROUS CHARMS OF THE THEATER. 

"Most providentially, for us, the play was simply 
'abominaible, low, suggestive, immoral, 'and wholly in- 
excus'able. There was no moral and I cannot see 
how any possible good ean come from it. We were 
horrified. The tittering of the afternoon audience 
(a respectable-looking company), the evident blind- 
ness and perverted moral sense of both actors and. 



A Message for You. 143 

spectators, distressed us beyond measure. But oh, 
after our long period of questioning and indecision, 
it was just what we needed. We saw the danger 
and subtlety of the theater as we never could have 
seen it in a better play. It shocked us that no- 
ble Christian ministers could be so beguiled and could 
draw others after them. 

"We left the theater in silence and walked up 
Tremont Street and soon found ourselves opposite a 
house endeared to me by most sacred recollections. 
Many years ago it was the home of my godly grand- 
parents, where I lived during the first years of my 
life. As a child I had there received from my be- 
loved and faithful parents, now with their Lord, my 
first impressions of Jesus, my Savior, and his salva- 
tion. With few words, after an earnest prayer, we 
took hold of hands, standing by the old homestead, 
and pledged ourselves before Grod that we would nev- 
er again attend the public theater until a revolution 
had changed the very heart of society. 

T 

TOUCH NOT THE UNCLEAN" THING. 

*'As a whole, the theater is bad, bad, bad, through 
and through, and, I believe, is growing worse. The 
perfectly good plays are very few »and can not save 
the wreck. The influences of stage life upon those 
employed are very dreadful and I fear that very 
many, if not most of such, are sooner or later cor- 
rupted. One of the fearful dangers is to my mind 
the ease and complacency with which good people 



144 A Message for You. 

can learn to tolerate grievous departiires from a New 
Testament standard of morality. The tendency is 
for the moral sense to hecome perverted, blinded. 
*For art's sake,' positively repulsive immorality is 
quietly ignored. It is a strange and sad sight, far 
too common, to see cultivated and intelligent people 
sit calmly through performances that ought to shock 
the ,moral sense 'of their inmost soul. No, the church 
must let the theater alone. Christians must 'come 
out from it and be separate and touch not the un- 
clean thing. ' 

BEWAEE OF DOUBTFUL THINGS. 

' ' Our investigation is over. Our study is complet- 
ed. It ihas been a dangerous experiment. But we 
have information at first hand, we know whereof we 
speak. We shall be better lable than ever to warn 
and advise. It will enable us to avoid with increased 
conviction all 'border-line' practices." 

THE BAiNC'Eu 

The dance also has a history. It is thousands of 
years old — as old as the race, and is known in every 
land. Its characteristic features remain the same in 
every age and clime. 

The attraction of the dance is the intimate contact 
■of tlie sexes. The point of danger is the too free in- 
termingling of men and women. Every amusement 
has its particular temptation. That of the dance is 
its inducement to lust. 



A Message for You. 145 

I am writing to be understood, for be it known 
fhat separate dances of men with men and women 
with women are too prosy. They lack interest and 
cannot be sustained. The free mingling of the sexes 
is necessary to make the dance a success. "Hug- 
ging set to music" is the attractive feature in this 
old Satanic pleasure. 

The editor of the Sunday School Times has words 
■on the moral influence of the dance that will be read 
with interest : 

''Dancing today means usually but one kind — that 
of couples of opposite sexes. In it, society sanctions 
between men and women (not of kin) that which is 
not tolerated by society under any other circumstan- 
ces save marriage or an engagement of marriage. 
There is no parallel to it in anything else in civilized 
Christendom today. Those are the blunt facts. It 
sometimes puts girls and young women at the mercy, 
for the time being, of men who move in their class 
of society and yet whom husbands and brothers 
know to he moral outcasts. Even when both partici- 
pants are pure-minded people, the dance offers an 
invitation to temptation which has no parallel in oth- 
er sanctioned customs of society. It may be claimed 
and with some reason that there are pure-minded 
girls and women who dance and are not harmed mor- 
ally by it — but what of that ? No one can say with 
•assurance that those same pure souls are beyond the 
danger of ever being so harmed, while they continue 
the practice. And does the pure-minded 3^oung 



146 A Message for You. 

woman want to have a part in tihat wMch, while pos- 
sibly harmless to herself, is sure to harm her partner ? 
Men are not on as high a moral plane as women, and 
all boys and men wiho make 'a practice of dancing are 
morally hnrt by it. Every honest man who has 
danced will admit that, at one time or another, the 
effect on him has been of downward tendency, not 
upward. ' ' 

'OAEDS. 

And what shall be said of cards ? 

At the conclusion of a lecture upon card playing 
a student approached the speaker and said, ''You 
have not said too much against card-playing. You 
have not said enough of the evil of cards. I know 
that every word you have spoken is true. We have 
suffered from the evil of the card table in our fam- 
ily. I had a brother who learned to play cards. He 
became proficient and began to gamble. Cards and 
gambling go together. Bad company and the gam- 
ing table are ''hail-fellows well met." The game so 
fascinated him that he lost balance and there was 
nothing that we could do that would stop him. He 
went on from bad to worse, down, down to a gamb- 
ler's grave." 

The hold that cards in the form of whist and pro- 
igressive euchre have upon the people and the danger 
is illustrated in the instance of a mother who was a 
member of the church. 

She had attended a progressive euchre party and 
was the winner in the game. Her success so delight- 



A Message for You. 147 

ed her that she could not conceal her pleasure. Hold- 
ing in her hand a 'beautiful cut glass dish she ex- 
claimed to her husband and children at the breakfast 
table the next morning, ''See what I won yesterday 
at the enchre party! Isn't it pretty? Wasn't I 
lucky?" 

The son was suspicioned of frequenting the pool 
room. He was causing his parents anxiety by his 
love of cards, the loose company he was keeping, his 
late hours and low down gambling proclivities. 
What he had done was largely 'a secret but he could 
no longer resist the temptation to speak and show 
his streak of good luck. Pulling out a, roll of five 
dollar bills from his pocket he exclaimed, "See here, 
mother! Your good luck is nothing to mine. I won 
this stake last night at the pool room." 

What is progressive euchre but gambling? What 
is the difference in principle between the fashiona- 
ble game with its forfeits in the elegant parlor played 
by church members, and the stakes won in the low 
down gambling hell? 

The mother, shocked and humiliated, was at last 
awakened to the evil of her way and abandoned her 
polite gambling. She was a sadder but a wiser 
woman. 

GTambling in some form is a national vice affeeting 
ail classes of society. 

Mrs. A. B. 'Sims, of Des Moines, Iowa, winner of 
the women's whist championship of the United 
States, was one of the speakers at a recent Bible Con- 



14-8 A Message for You. 

ference at Winona, and gave her experience and tes- 
timony : 

''After I saw what I was really doing, I burned up 
my whist hoard and cards, and I should like to speak 
in every church to the women and tell them what 
card-playing led me to and will lead them to. 

"I belong to Christ Church, in Des Moines, and 
when I wias most active at the card table, I was also 
trying to work in the church. My husband was on the 
bo^ard of trustees and I was at the head of the church 
sick committee. 

"I looked about me in the church and saw that 
card-playing was undermining our organization. The 
whist and euchre craze was sweeping the women of 
the congregation, and the church was sinking be- 
cause of their neglect. The fever to play whist ac- 
quired such a hold on me that I abandoned my 
church work ; in fact, I quit attending services. 

"Finally, Mr. 'Sims and I fell to discussing it, and 
we concluded that my identity with the church and 
the card clubs made my attitude ridiculous, I had 
spent years studying whist fro'm a, scientific stand- 
point. I had given as much thought to the game as 
a minister of a church could give to the Scriptures. 

"Toward the close of my card career, I declared 
that I would give up euchre and whist parties, but 
would never abandon the regulation game of whist. 
In 1906 I heard Dr. Chapman preach on 'Amuse- 
ments.' I made up my mind that I would never 
touch a card again. 



A Message for You. 149 

''Tlie card craze, as it prevails among the women 
of this country, is the most serious competitor the 
church has today. It is causing them to abandon 
home and church interests. I have had letters from 
women in every leading city in the United States, in 
which they declared that iJhe church and society 
women have gone mad over bridge, whist and other 
games. Letters in similar strain have come to me 
from Canada, Europe, and Mexico. 

''It was when these messages began to pour in 
upon me that the hold cards have taken on civilized 
women fully dawned on me. I want the women of 
the country to hear my experience. I want to con- 
vince them, if I can, that card-playing and Christian- 
ity will not go together." 



150 A Message for You. 

OH'APTEGR XXIII. 
THE HXEIMY OiF THE HOME. 

"Flusbands love your wives. . . Teach the young women 
to love their husbands, to love their children. . . . What 
therefore God hath joined together let not man put asun- 
der."— Bible. 

There is a lack of iiome life. The evening at 
home is too rare. The members of the family scat- 
ter soon as the evening meal is over, the children to 
the library or an evening's entertainment, the fa- 
ther to the clnb, amusement hall or to business. The 
mother .also often excuses herself to attend her 
lodge, church or s'ociety meeting. 

These deplete the home of strength and of its right- 
ful place as a character builder. The substitutes 
leave every member weaker. If the substitutes are 
not vicious they do not allow the family to mould 
the character of the young as the home is designed 
to do. 

The following points its 'own moral : 

''One night, after curfew had sounded, a 
policeman saw a little boy on the street and 
ttold him he must go home or he put in 
jail. 'All right," said the boy: 'I'll go to jail.* 
'But why don't you go home?' 'asked the officer. 'I 
don't want to,' replied the boy. 'Dad's at lodge, 
ma's gone to the enchre party. Bud's out walking 
with his girl and Sis is at the theatre with her beau. 



A Message for You. 151 

They left me and the dog at home. I'll go to jail.' " 

THE DIVORCE MILL. 

** There have been within the last forty years 1,- 
300,000 divorces in the United States. This is an 
increase of 1,000,000 in the last twenty years over 
t'he twenty years preceding. 

The figures cause us to think with apprehension. 

1,300,000 divorces involve 2,600,000 people, the 
husband and wife. And it may involve as many 
more helpless children. Think of the vast number 
of people whose home relations have been ruthlessly 
'broken up. 

HOMELESS MEN" AND WOMEN. 

Helpless children thrown on the world, placed up- 
on unwilling relatives, sent to orphan asylums, or 
crowded onto strangers are likely to grow up in vice 
and repeat the misfortune of their parents. 

These men and women are turned loose, homeless, 
and in a pitiful condition. They are not under con- 
trol. They are prejudiced and passionate, and sus- 
ceptible to temptation and evil. In many cases they 
soon marry again to repeat the story of incompati- 
bility, neglect, cruelty, separation and divorce. 

CAUSE OF DIVORCE. 

Hasty marriages are responsible for many hasty 
divorces. People do not know each other. They 
may not have counted the cost of marriage. 

Too many marry from other motives than those of 

true love. 



152 A Message for You. 

Marriages of convenience are a fearful source of 
€vil. 

American women who marry foreigners for their 
titles generally find them flimsy dependencies. 

Marrying for money is an unworthy motive. And 
the bond is not strong enough to support 'one in the 
severe stress of life. 

Married people must have a support if they live on 
this earth, but if they are worthy they can make that. 

MON^EY TO START WITH. 

The idea that the law should not permit any to 
marry without a certain amount of money to set 
themselves well up in housekeeping and in business 
is not practical. The groom should have money to 
pay for the license and the preacher's fee, then let 
young onarried people pitch in, work together, and 
make a living like out forefathers did. L'ove and 
health and right purposes and work will carry brav^ 
and true hearts through every obstacle. 

HIGH LIVING. 

The love of money and display are responsible for 
many family quarrels. We live strenuously. We 
are on a rush (for money. ' ' The cares of life and the 
deceitfulness of riches" cause much domestic infe- 
licity. It costs too much to live. Life is artificial 
and expensive. The unnecessary things often cost 
most. A return to a more simple life would mean 
more love and more happiness in the home. 



A Message for You. 153 

''the new woman/'' 

The strenuous life keeps men at work, or -business, 
many hours, and so intensely that they have little 
time or disposition to cultivate tenderness and love 
for their wives and children. 

**'The New Woman" is blamed with the increase 
of divorce. But really there is no " New Woman, ' ' 
as there is no new man. Human nature is the same 
in all ages. Conditions have changed in the past 
quarter 'of a century. The business world has open- 
ed its doors to women. 

Her adaptation and success in teaching has nearly 
driven men from the schoolroom. S^he meets you 
-as clerk in the great stores. She is more indepen- 
dent, perhaps less domestic. She can make more 
money and have better hours in the factory, store, 
office, 'or schoolroom, and be more respected and 
independent than to serve in the kitchen. But do 
not think for an instant that there is a ' ' New Wom- 
an." A woman is a woman and a man is a man, 
and that is all there is of it. Great human nature 
lies deeper than any circumstance of life. 

LIFE IS REAL. 

Is it that husbands and wives expect to find a 
continuation of the pleasures of courtship? Do they 
expect to live on bliss all the days of their lives? 
They will soon find that ''Life is real ; life is earnest" 
— that there are battles to fight and hard work to be 
done, and that two have become one flesh that they 



154 A Message for You. 

may accomplis'li the design of the Almighty in the 
'origin of the home. 

'"single BLEiSSEDNESS/' 

Together, if true, they will he stronger, hetter, 
wiser, than either would he alone. A man is never 
so much a man as when he is well married to a noble 
woman, divinely planned. And a woman never 
reaches her best until she stands beside the man of 
her choice, the queen of his heart and home. 

Loose marriage laws show willful and weak peo- 
ple who 'may want to jump out of the marital rela- 
tion how they may find a breach in the wall. 

TPIE REMEDY. 

But is there not a remedy for the evil? Must the 
iniquity go on multiplying indefinitely, wrecking 
lives and destroying the home, Ood's greatest agency 
for mean's development and highest good? 

Something may be done to stop the tide of evil. 

First : Marriage laws should be strengthened and 
improved. They should be made uniform all over 
the nation. And on this, as on all subjects, they 
should conform to the Bible standard. One husband 
and one wife, and no divorce except for the Bible 
cause. There may be separation where divorce would 
not be permissible. 

KISSING PARTIES. 

Second: The writer said to a friend when dis- 
cussing a tragedy that occurred on account 'of the 
downfall of a young lady in whom both were inter- 



A Message for You, 155 

ested, that "kissing parties were dangerous to purity 
of life, and that the poison in the dance was at the 
point of contact of the sexes, in which they were ex- 
citing illicit passion, 'and that the average theater 
with its nude actors, and pictures, were suggestive 
of immodesty and tended to break down the sense 
of modesty.'' 

"Yes," was the reply, "hut these are not as bad as 
spooning, for it often results in enforced marriage, 
or worse." Let these all be discouraged among the 
youug in the interest of a white life for two. 

Third : Children should be taught in the home a 
proper respect for one another. The sexes should 
not ming'le too freely. 

Fourth : Preachers should preach on marriage, its 
'duties and responsibilities ; on the duty of parents to 
■children, and children to parents, and of children to 
one another, and of our relation to society. 

Fifth : Revivals of righteousness should permeate 
'Our land from one end to the other. These clarify 
the moral atmosphere, quicken the conseieuce and 
the moral sensibilities, causing men to live in the spir- 
itual rather than in the animal realm. Regenerate 
men are safer in society than unregenerate, sodden 
human nature. 

Sixth: Teachers in secular and Sunday schools 
may do increasing work in lifting the moral tone of 
the children and youth of the land. 

Seventh : Papers, magazines and books that enter 
the home should be clean and of high tone to form 



156 A Message for You. 

tbe character of the young for the family of the fu- 
ture. 

Eighth : And lastly, family piety of the old-fash- 
ioned type with family prayer, Bible reading and 
reverence for God, conversation upon the sacred 
things of life, death and immortality, 'and family 
discipline should he restored. This would do much 
to save the family. 



A Message for You. 157 

CHAPTEiR XXIV. 
THE A:MEiEI€lAX SALOOXf. 

"It can never be legalized withonit sin." 

— (M. E. Bishops in 1888.) 

Unanimous belief on the part of the people of all 
ranks and conditions of society prevails that the sa- 
loon is a calamity to community. 

1. — The saloon encourages idleness. It has chairs, 
tables, mirrors, billiard and card tables, fine lights, 
the daily papers and accommodating clerks. Every 
appointment says ''come and welcome." 

A SOCIAL RESORT. 

Young men meet there as headquarters and sally 
forth to see the sights or spend the evening reading 
the news, chatting, smoking, drinking, billiard or 
card playing. Later they disappear and may 
be found in a back room or upstairs room surround- 
ing card tables, drinking and playing deeply accor- 
ding to their means and advancement in this school 
of vice. 

The saloon's attraction as a social resort is its 
strength and evil. 

GROG SHOP AND SHOES. 

A successful grog shop stands opposed to every 
legitimate business. It would ruin derks, mechan- 
ics, and men of business. Its tendency is to absoi^b 
every other business. 



158 A Message for You. 

A workshop is a dull place for a young man who 
Ihas spent tihe evening among gay, idle companions. 
The store, field, school, and office are uninviting 
when put in contrast with brilliantly lighted resorts 
where everything is on the free and easy line. 

2. — ^The salooai leads to drinking. 'Saloonists claim 
to he temperance men, in favor of temperance with- 
out fanaticism. But their kind of temperance does 
not prohibit drinking. Men may tipple. They may 
drink more and more. They may become drunk. 
They 'may become sots. The saloon encourages every 
step of the way to the drunkard. 

Every business supplies a demand. The lumber 
man furnishes lum'ber for our houses, and the groeer 
supplies our tables. The saloon is accountable for 
1,000,000 drunkards in our land, and 60,000 deaths 
annually. 

WAGES AND DRINK. 

3. — ^^The saloon squanders wages. You pay for 
clothing, groceries or coal and get your money's 
worth. When a man spends his wages for drink he 
takes an enemy into his mouth to steal away his 
brains. 

The building and loan association enables thous- 
ands of working men to buy homes by saving the lit- 
tles week by 'wedk. Where the budlding and loan 
prospers, the saloon proportionately has dull times. 

4. — ^The salo'on vitiates the moral atmosphere. Thus 
from good families will go worthless children. Be- 



A Message for You. 150 

cause the saloon and street corner are educators as 
well as school, church and family. 

5. — Our courts of justice suffer 'by the presence of 
this moral malaria. 

SCHOOL AND SALOON. 

6 — The saloon opposes the public school. Thera 
are more saloons than school houses, more bartenders 
than school teachers. And the institution costs the 
people more than the cause of education. 

The drunkard cannot send his children to school 
for want of clothes and books. The saloon is the vor- 
tex into which his money is engulfed. The child is 
often taken from school to work. 

7. — ^It ruins the home. Ask the wives, sisters and 
children of drunkards. They are the great innocent 
sufferers. The home suffers untold injury from this 
ravaging waste. 

8. — The saloon neutralizes the work of the church. 
Penitents crowding church altars are tempted and 
fall at the bar. Discouraged, they become indifferent 
and hardened to the claims 'of religion. 

TOTAL ABSTINENCE. 

The church is lacking the attendance and support 
of young men. Is religion emasculated that it can- 
not touch and control the springs of their lives? Is 
Christianity a refuge for women, children and easy 
slippered old men? 

If the young men were delving into science, mas- 
tering literature and philosophy, or solving great 
problems for humanity, independent of Christian- 



160 A Message for You, 

ity, we mig'ht say tliey have outgrown cMdhood's 
playthings and clothes. 

But where are the young men? Actual observa- 
tion hy shrewd observers of men, finds them pamper- 
ing their appetites and passions, drinking, smoking, 
'Chewing, spitting, swearing, bragging iand gam'bling 
in the grog shops of every city, town, village and 
country place of our land. They are strong largely 
in that which we have in common with the brutes. 

The American saloon is but another name for Hell. 
Death and destruction follow its wake. But its days 
are numbered. The people are iaroused. The de- 
struction of life, the ruin of homes, the inroad upon 
the church, the waste and burden to society combine 
to make the saloon the dreaded enemy of man. The 
question is up for settlement. The people have their 
€nemy on the run. There will be no retreat and no 
quarter given. Several remedies for the evil have 
been proposed. 

1. Total Abstinence. 

No young man can afford to drink. It costs too 
much. It wastes money and manhood; his fortune 
and eternity. A man is too valuable to drink his 
life away. If every man, woman and child in the 
land would prohibit liquor drinking at the door of 
his own mouth, no saloon, brewery, distillery, sa- 
loon drug store or even blind tiger could be found. 
Liquor selling would take care of itself. Supply 
regulates demand. No demand, no supply. 

This method has the advantage of being free from 



A Message for You. 161 

'Coercion. There is no force. Persuasion is employ- 
ed. The individual controls himself, and business 
adjusts itself to existing conditions. 

GOOD AS FAR AS IT GOES. 

The weakness of total abstinence, as a remedy for 
society, is that the millions would perish while reach- 
ing "the consummation devoutly to be wished.^' 
While educating the people to the beautiful ideal 
of self-control the conglomerated masses from every 
nation under the sun would work their own and our 
nation's undoing. 

This method is like killing a forest by pull- 
ing the leaves of the trees, one 'by one. It would be 
an endless and futile task. Let the work of educa- 
tion go on. Let children be taught scientific tem- 
perance. Let preachers, teachers, lecturers, writers 
and parents instruct and lead the people to better 
living. 

But moral suasion is not enough. We need the 
strong arm of the law applied, because we have mul- 
titudes of people, who live on a low plane, whose 
'belly is their Ood, who debauch their own lives and 
would destroy our fair eivilization for money and 
lust. 

LICENSE. 

License is next proposed. Men say regulate the 
traffic. Place restrictions upon it. Make the busi- 
ness pay damages that result from it. Reduce the 
evil to the minimum. Shut it off on legal holidays, 



162 A Message for You. 

Sundays and after midnight on week days. And 
make tlie traffic, if we must have it, as safe and re- 
ispectable as possible. 

And more, make the license high. This, we are 
told will "cut out" low dives and put the trade into 
the hands of more responsible men. 

Why not let the state have some benefit from it? 
Use the revenue for the public schools. If the traf- 
fic ruins homes, tax it higih and use the money to 
educate the children. Thus the state will have some 
compensation. 

LICENSE NOT THE CURE. 

The trouble is that license permits an evil. It re- 
ceives revenue from a known evil. And by taking 
pay society becomes a partner to the iniquity of 
ruining its own citizens. And if the state receives 
pay it must shield its customers. They can point to 
their license and claim the protection of the state. 

Besides hig'h license is not la remedy. It may 
drive scores out of business only to turn the traffic 
over to the rich who can pay the license. This is 
not American. If the business is right let all have a 
•chance. If right the business should no more be 
taxed than dry goods or grocery stores. 

If a hundred saloons in a city or county are re- 
duced to a dozen the dozen will do the business. The 
number of drunkards is not reduced. The pitfalls 
are fewer but ruin of human life goes on. And I am 
not sure that a parent cares whether his child is de- 
stroyed in a hell hole that pays $1,000 license, or one 



A Message for You. 163 

that pays $50.00. There is death in the pot in either 
case. 

License, hig'h or low, has not succeeded as a saloon 
annihilator. Saloons multiply and drunkards mul- 
tiply under the license system. It is a temperance 
measure that does not insure death but permission 
and protection to man's enemy. 

PROHIBITION. 

The last remedy proposed is legal prohibition. 
For a long time in the history of temperance legisla- 
tion the constitutionality of prohibition was con- 
tested. But we are getting beyond that bugbear. 
We see more clearly that nothing can be constitu- 
tionally right that is morally wrong. And that if 
the constitution of the state upholds a moral wrong, 
the constitution should be changed. We should get 
a better constitution, a right constitution. For when 
a thing is right it is right. And it is never right 
when wrong. And what ds more a thing is never set- 
tled till settled right. 

And prohibition is right. License men and local 
optionists with one ^accord proclaim that prohibition 
is right in principle. If prohibition is right why 
not do right? Why not embody the principle in 
law? We prohibit murder, theft, ^arson. Why not 
prohibit the liquor traffic which is the cause of three- 
fourths of all crime? 

PROHIBITION" A FAILURE? 

''Bnt prohibition does not prohibit." We hear 



164 A Message for You. 

this note of wail from the enemy. The brewers pub- 
lish abroiad that prohibition is a failure. This should 
please them if they want temperance legislation that 
fails. 

But of all methods, they fight prohibition. Strange 
but true. They tolerate license, even high li- 
cense. If driven from that position they take 
refuge in local option. But they protest with all 
their might against prohibition, and use millions 
of money and men and resort to every black design 
'to accomplish their hellish purpose. 

What they love as a temperance measure, I bate. 
And what they hate I love. Their hard fighting 
against prohibition is one of the strong arguments 
for the 'Only position that will 'pulverize the rum 
traffic. 

Ood hasten the day when not a saloon may be 
found in all this fair land. Till then I shall vote 
squarely against the traffic as the greatest question 
before the American people. And if my vote does 
not prohibit the business it will at least prohibit my 
part of it. iSaloons may exiist but they will not exist 
with my consent. 

N'OT BY MY VOTE. 

Oovernor Hanly, of Indiana, in 1908, said: 
*'I hate it as Abraham Lincoln hated slavery. 
And as he so'metimes saw in prophetic vision the end 
of slavery and the coming of the time when the sun 
should shine and the rain should fall upon no slave 
in the republic, so I sometimes seem to see the end 



A Message for You. 165 

of this unholy traffic ; the coming of the time when, 
if it does not wholly cease to be, it shall find no safe 
habitation anywhere beneath Old Glory's stainless 
stars. ' ' 

Hale Johnson voices my conviction and practice 
in the following words : 

"These four words will answer all argument on 
this question : ' Not by my vote. ' If they say to us, 
*Men will have it,' we can answer, 'Not by my vote.' 
If another says, 'Men will sell it,' again we reply, 
'Not by my vote.' If v^e are told we must he po- 
litic, we answer, 'Not by my vote.' I am not bound 
to abolish the saloon, but only my interest in it. My 
vote 'may not hurt the saloo-n, but I am bound to vote 
it right all the same. iSaloons may go on, like the 
brook, forever. Men may die in them like flies, and 
hell grow fat on drunkards. Oirls may be betrayed 
and boys baited hellward. Truth may be wrecked 
and character dismantled. Homes may be destroyed 
and women and children beggared. Soldiers' homes 
may still sell drink to the old veterans and army 
■canteens debauch the young ones. Our national 
'Capitol may have a saloon at either end. Senators 
and representatives may be drunk on the floors of 
Congress, 'but not by my vote.' " 



166 A Message for You. 

GHAPTER XXV. 
THE TOBACCO QUESTION. 

"There is but one temple in the universe, and that is the 
body of man." — Novalis. 

"No human being has a right to be less than his best." 

"Know ye that our bodies are" — churches, not pigsties. 
— Dr. Jouett in Western Christian Advocate. 

King Nicotine rules a vast domain and counts iiis 
isu^bjects by the multitudes of millions. These obey 
'his will implicitly, and every day they serve him 
they become more abject slaves. 

The evil wrought upon all classes of society is so 
great by the use of tobacco, and the Press and Pulpit 
are so silent upon the subject, that I speak a warning 
word that may he heeded by some. 

A young man who uses tobacco degenerates. He 
loses tone and a fine sense of manhood. He cares 
less for what people think of him, loses in self-re- 
spect, hecomes less fine in his instincts and tastes, 
and suffers a, distinct loss in the lowering of ideals. 
His associates will likely 'be of a lower order. 

He goes down in his grades in school or college, 
and 'loses interest in his studies. He frequently loses 
■ambition to work and seek promotion. He is con- 
tent to be very average. Sometimes he develops un- 
usual irritability — ^his will power weakened, and his 
judgment perverted. He develops a degree of wil- 



A Message for You. 167 

fulness so unusiial that 'his friends can scarcely ac- 
count for it. 

Such seem to be the effects of Nicotine Poison up- 
on the nerve centers, the circulation and the general 
physical condition, weakening the mental action and 
lowering the Moral tone. 

These conditions may be observed often in the 
young w^ho do not use the weed. Various influences 
affect them as they pass through this slippery and 
uncertain period of life, but they are marked in 
those whose bodies and brains are being poisoned by 
nicotine. 

And it is difficult to get them to see these tenden- 
cies an themselves and correct them so long as they 
are addicted to the habit. It is the cause of the ruin 
of many a young man. 

A UNITED VOICE AGAINST THE POISON. 

Science is speaking in no uncertain terms against 
the unwholesome Tobacco Habit. 

Scientific temperance instruction in the public 
schools, teaching the effect of narcotics upon the hu- 
man body, is doing a good work among the young. 

School teachers and professors in first-class col- 
leges are not usually expected to use tobacco in any 
form, as the example is considered bad, and the 
teacher occupies a position of great influence over 
the young. 

The protestant evangelical ministry as a class is 
on the right side of this question. Whenever a 
preacher uses tobacco — and too many do — the exam- 



168 A Message for You. 

pie is conspicuous and is always a mark of demerit. 
He is sure to be quoted 'by tobacco using boys and his 
example will be r-egretted by godly parents. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church will not receive 
a young man into the ministry who does not sign a 
written promise not to use tobacco in any form. 

The Womans Ohristian Temperance Union, through 
its department of narcotics, is doing a good work in 
educating the head and heart of the people on the 
evil of the vile practice. 

The medical profession is getting its eyes open. 
Time and again physicians reco'mmend their patients 
to desist from tobacco, in any form, if they would 
bave health. 

Tobacco users often quit its use from necessity. 
Heart failure, indigestion, some form of rheumatism, 
or, on general principles, they feel that tobacco is 
doing them harm. Not one of these persons but im- 
proves his health by the disuse of the needless lux- 
ury. 

A father who is addicted to tobacco does not ad- 
vise his son to use it. Many on the other hand advise 
them against it and use their authority, but gener- 
ally in vain. Example speaks louder than precept. 

I have known users of the weed to deplore it, but 
years of practice fixed the habit which held them 
]ike a cable. Prom weakness of will they were led 
against their better judgments, like ''galley slaves.'* 
One of the fearful counts against the practice is that 



A Message for You. 169 

after a number of years the user against his will is 
its slave forever ! 

Scarcely a mother or wife of a tobacco user can 
be found who at heart is in favor of the nasty prac- 
tice. Many of them loathe, but suifer it. Every 
womanly ins tic t rises against the spittoon in the 
house and the unnatural, selfish gratification, but 
their patience is marvelous. 

Waves of temperance reform as it applies to the 
drinking of intoxicating liquors as a beverage have 
swept over the land. Christian men have conscience 
on the drink evil that the generation agone did not 
have. We have advanced beyond our fathers. They 
drank constantly. Ministers and members used ''The 
Good Creature of Grod" and denounced as fanatics 
those who practiced total abstinence. ''Moderation" 
was their cry. 

But we, their sons, have seen a light they never 
saw. It shines brighter and brighter. We expect 
Christians to he total abstainers from all intoxicating 
drinks, and the day is 'not distant when the traffic 
will be legally prohibited throughout the length and 
breadth of the land. Ood speed the day. 

The tobacco habit, its sale, manufacture and cult- 
ure will meet the same fate. 

"It takes a long time to get an idea through the 
head of the race, ' ' but we are moving slowly upward 
to a better goal. 

Seers tell us that the next wave of reform will be 
against the unclean, unwholesome tobacco habit. 



170 A Message for You. 

Before a generation church members will no more 
be expected to use tobacco dn any form than they 
now, in the leading evangelical denominations, are 
expected to drink intoxicating liquors as a beverage. 
We iare making progress. What will our descend- 
ants in 100 years from now think when they read of 
our low ideals, filthy practices and lack of self-denial 
and claiming to be followers of Jesus Christ? 

Let me quote authorities on this subject, whose 
words will command the respect of thinking men : 

OLD AT FIFTY. 

Dr. Willard Parker, at the head of the medical pro- 
fession in New York City, said : ' ' I am sure that in 
health no one can use tobacco without detriment to 
body, mind and soul. It is a poison which isolwly 
but surely destroys life and a man who uses it to any 
extent is as old at fifty as he would be at sixty with- 
out it. All who smoke or chew are more apt to die 
in epidemics and more prone to apoplexy and par- 
alysis than other people. The duty of abstaining 
from the slow killing of one's self by tobacco is as 
'dear as the duty of not cutting one's throat." 

Lord Bacon said : "To smoke is a secret delight, 
serving to steal away men's minds." 

INJURES BOYS. 

Principal Bancroft, Phillips Academy, Andover, 
Mass., says: ''Tobacco is the bane of our schools and 
colleges. Teachers who have given any attention to 
the subject agree that boys go down under its use 



A Message for You. 171 

in scholarsliip, in self-respect, in self-control. It 
takes off the fine edge of the mind, injures the man- 
ners and dulls the moral senses/' 

L. Pierce Clark, M. D., a, scientific observer and in- 
vestigator of New Yoi^k City, in an article to the 
Sunday School Times, of October 25, 1909, on "How 
Tobacco Affects the Nervous System," says in con- 
clusion : ' ' From experiments upon acute and chronic 
tobacco poisoning, the following conclusions may be 
drawn : 

"1. It is proven definitely that tobacco in excess 
acts as a heart and blood-vessel poison. 

^'2. It acts first on the nerve iand muscle structure 
of the ibody as an excitant, and secondly as a nerve 
depressor, and finally it paralyzes the central nerves 
and nerve-endings of the heart and lungs. 

"Its chronic effects on the nerves are to produce a 
poison-congestion of the brain, spinal cord and end 
nerves in 'heart, lungs, muscles and skin. It induces 
a sort of slow nerve-degeneration in the nerve end- 
ings. ' ' 

DISTURBS HEART ACTION. 

'Matthew Woods, M. D., a member of the American 
Medical Association and of the National Assoeiation 
for the study of epilepsy and care and treatment of 
epileptics, says: "Being a physician I may be ex- 
pected to say something about the effect that tobacco 
has on the health of those who use it; that it at times 
shatters the nerves, disturbs heart action, enfeeWes 
the circulation, making its victim less liable to resist 



173 A Message for You. 

disease; that it produces laryngitis and cough, and 
causes other throat and lung diseases demanding 
medical aid ; that by its effect on the eustachian tubes 
and nerves of special sense it produces deafness, de- 
fect of vision, and other impotencies ; that it dimin- 
ishes physical force, and causes that enfeebled state 
of the nervous and digestive apparatus that leads to 
stimulation by alcohol, indicating the reason why 
people who use tobacco so often feel the necessity for 
something to buoy them up." 

TOBACCO CANCER. 

**In a never-to-ibe-forgotten clinic I once conducted 
in a remote part of Ireland, where nearly all the old 
women smoked, I saw one morning nine of them in 
a row — products of that poetry and civilization that 
Mr. Yeats wants to revive, for none of them could 
read, write anything, or speak English — each with 
the lower lip partially eaten away, two with the bone 
of the chin exposed through the suppurating flesh, 
■as a consequence of the use of tobacco. Somew'hat 
similar sights, but of men, and perhaps not as many 
at a time, may be witnessed at the general surgical 
clinics of our own large hospitals. ' ' 

PERVERTED JUDGMENTSI — HURTS THE YOUNG. 

**0f epilepsy I have seen two 'cases, a 'boy of eleven 
years and a young man of twenty, where the convul- 
sions followed a tobacco debauch and seemed to have 
no other origin. Ecchiveria has also recorded where 
that dreadful disease coxdd be ascribed to no other 



A Message for You. 173 

cause. It is not, however, the diseases following in 
the iwake of the tobacco vice so much as the pervert- 
ed judgment and moral obliquity it engenders that 
makes it such a menace to the better growth of the 
coming generation. ' ' 

THE UNITED STATES DISPENSARY. 

Our highest authority, has this to say 'on tobacco : 
*'It is a powerful sedative poison whioh is locally 
irritant. In large quantities it gives rise to confusion 
of the head, vertigo, stupor, faintness, nausea, and 
general depression of the nervous and circulatory 
functions. It enfeebles digestion, produces general 
debility and lays the foundation for serious nervous 
disorders. Amaurosis and color blindness are occa- 
sionally produced by it, and even insanity has been 
ascribed to chronic tobacco poisoning." 

In many cases of nervous breakdown attributed to 
overwork, the excessive use 'of tobacco has certainly 
been an important factor." 

The Doctor adds, "Even this is not the worst thing 
that can he said about 'the besotter of nations/ to- 
bacco." 

Rev. Joseph Cook said: "Can a good man with a 
cigar in his mouth talk effectively to a boy with a 
cigarette in his mouth ? A hundred times, no ! As 
to the tobacco nuisance, public opinion is rising in 
'both intelligence and sternness. It is doing this un- 
der the progress of scientific investigation, and espe- 
cially under the impulse of notice w*hich has been 
turned lately upon diseases caused by tobacco. It is 



174 A Message for You. 

now very well ascertained that deliriam tremens 
may be produced by excessive indulgence in narcot- 
ics. The facts known to the medical profession as 
to lip and tongue cancers caused by tobacco are too 
horrible to be recited before a public assembly, espe- 
cially over the grave of that great soldier whose 
death has made Mt. Gregor a sacred height. ' ^ 

A FRUITFUL CAUSE OF INSANITY. 

Dr. Prance, for a long while superintendent of the 
Insane Asylum at Northampton, Mass., says: "Fully 
half of the patients who have come to our asylum for 
treatment are the victims of tobacco.'' 

Dr. Pidduck: ** Leeches are killed instantly by 
the 'blood of smokers." 

TOBACCO A POISON — SHORTENS LIFE. 

Dr. J. H. Kellogg: ''The fact is establis-hed be- 
yond the possibility of successful controversy, that 
tobacco is a poison deadly in large doses, pernicious 
and harmful in all doses. It taints the breath, ruins 
the digestion, obliterates taste and smell, spoils the 
blood, oppresses the brain, depresses the heart, irri- 
tates the nerves, wastes the muscles, obstructs the 
liver, dims the vision, stains the skin, and deterio- 
rates and contaminates every organ and tissue wdth 
which it comes in contact in the body. Its influence 
is to lessen vitality, to benumb the sensibilities, to 
shorten life, to kill. ' ' 

It is difficult to understand how a g'ood man can 
allow himself to become a slave to such a filthy ap- 



A Message for You. 175 

petite ; how a clean man can take such a mess into his 
mouth ; how a refined man can tolerate for a moment, 
this evil. 

WILL KILL LEECHES. 

An illustration taken from The School Journal 

will be a warning to boys who use cigarettes and 
cause their parents anxious thoughts. Perhaps it 
may help some one : 

''You smoke thirty cigarettes a day?" 

''Yes, on the average." 

"You don't blame them for your run-down condi- 
tion?" 

"Not in the least. I blame my hard work." 

The physician shook his head. He smiled in a 
vexed way. Then he took a leech out of a glass jar. 

"Let me show you something," he said. "Bare 
your arm." 

The cigarette fiend bared his pale arm, and the 
ether laid the lean, hlack leech upon it. Thci leech 
fell to work 'busily. Its body began to swell. Then, 
all of a sudden, a kind of shudder convulsed it, and 
it fell to the floor, dead. 

"That is what your blood did to that leech," said 
the physician. He took up the little corpse between 
his finger and thumb. ' ' Look at it, ' ' he said. ' ' Quite 
dead, you see. You poisoned it." 

"I guess it wasn't a healthy leech, in the first 
place," said the cigarette smoker, sullenly. 

"Wasn't healthy, eh? Well, we'll try again." 



176 A Message for You, 

And the physician clapped two leeches on the 
young man's thin arm. 

"If they both die/' said the patient, "I'll swear 
off — ^or, at least, I'll cut down my daily allowance 
from thirty cigarettes to ten." 

Even as he spoke the smaller leech shivered and 
dropped on his knee, dead, and a moment later the 
larger one fell beside it. 

"This is ghastly," said the young man; "I'm 
worse than the pestilence to the leeches." 

"It is the empyreumatic oil in your blood," said 
the 'medical man. "All cigarette fiends have it." 

"Doc," said the young man, regarding the three 
dead leeches, thoughtfully, "I half believe you're 
right." 

T. B. Terry in the New York Tribune, relates a 
circumstance too suggestive not to quote: 

KILLED HIS WIFE. 

Not long since I was walking in a city with a cele- 
brated physician. As we passed a house, surround- 
ed with every evidence of wealth and refinement, he 
spoke: "I have a patient in there, an idolized wife, 
who is dying, and beyond help, and none of them 
knoiw what is the matter with her, and still her hus- 
band has killed her.' 'Why, doctor,' says I, 'what 
do you mean?' 'I mean just this,' he says, 'her hus- 
band is literally steeped in tobacco until the insensi- 
ble perspiration from his body has be'come deadly 
poison, and his wife absorbed enough of this, and had 
before I was called in, so that she will die. ' 



A Message for You. 177 

'''Have you told them?" 'No; what good? It 
would only add to their misery now,' But doctor, 
are you sure?' 'Yes; I have seen such things be- 
fore. Some constitutions can bear the poison and 
some cannot. Why, just to give you an idea, I saw 
this experiment tried among others at an establish- 
ment where they treat patients for the cure of the 
tobacco habit.' " 

WILL KILL FLIES. 

*'A man just brought in was washed as clean as 
soap and water could make him, and then some Hies 
were allowed to light on him. In five minutes by the 
watch they were dead. There was podson enough in 
the perspiration that came out of the man washed as 
clean as possible to kill them. You can imagine 
W'hat he would be when he wasn't washed, perhaps 
to spend several hours each day in a warm bed with 
him. 

"This was all new to me and I was completr^ly 
dumbfounded. I don't use tobacco, thank Ood, and 
never did; but if I did, that physician's statement 
■would have stopped me as surely and quickly as la 
bullet would. Run any risk of killing my dear wife 
by my filthy habit ? Not much ! I would have slept 
in the stable, no, in the pig pen, or outdoors under 
a tree, far from every live animal, until the poison 
was all out of my system." 

HE DIED SUDDENLY. 

One writer has noted many instant deaths in these 
days recorded in the papers, and reports say that 



178 A Message for You. 

these suddeii deaths are nearly all among men and 
'boys, and not among women and girls. He attrib- 
utes this, in large part, to the evil effects of tobacco, 
women and girls being largely exempt from the evil 
habit. 

FORTUNES GO UP IN SMOKE. 

The money cost of tobacco comes in for considera- 
tion, though this is not the large item in the count. 

Some one has made the following estimate: *'A 
dollar a week is a low estimate for the cost of to- 
bacco for many families. If saved and deposited 
every six months at 7 per cent compound interest it 
would in fifty years amount to twenty-two thous- 
and, four hundred and twenty-three dollars, and at 
the end of eighty years there would be a snug fort- 
une of one hundred and eighty-one thousand, seven 
hundred and seventy- three dollars, so that but for 
these vices they might soon be well-to-do capital- 
ists.'' 

TOBACCO AND THE POOR. 

Dr. Talmage says : ' ' Put into my hand the money 
wasted in tobacco in Brooklyn, and I will support 
three orphan asylums as grand and beautiful as 
■those already established. Put into my hand the 
money wasted in tobacco in the United ^States and I 
will feed, clothe and shelter all the suffering poor on 
this continent. The American church gives $5,500,- 
000 a year for the evangelization of the heathen and 
American Christians spend $600,000,000 in tobacco.*' 



A Message for You. 179 

$145 FOR TOBACCO ! 

A Methodist clergyman says: **I have two hun- 
dred and sixty members in my charge, and about one 
hundred use tobacco. On making inquiry of each, 
I find they have spent for -that article in one year 
eight hundred and forty-five dollars. The entire mem- 
hership, with outsiders, pay to the pastor and pre- 
siding elder nine hundred dollars. One member con- 
fessed to spending one hundred and forty-five dol- 
lars for tobacco. His contribution for church exten- 
sion was sixty-isix cents. Another said his expendi- 
tures for tobacco was ninety-one dollars. His con- 
tributions stood thus : Missions, one dollar ; confer- 
ence claimants, one dollar. 

In view of all this and more, what sh'all be said 
about Christian men using tobacco, selling, manufac- 
turing and cultivating it. 

We know Christian men who sell tobacco the same 
as any other merchandise. All I have to say is we 
shall have to wait for more light and for a better 
type of Christians. 

A man has no right to raise, manufacture or sell 
that which is an injury to the buyer. It is not suffi- 
cient to say that the buyer is responsible. He is. So 
is the seller. We are not to place temptation in any 
man's way, even for money, or in any wise be a par- 
ty to his sin. 

I have known Christian business men under con- 
viction of duty to unload their stock of tobacco and 
keep clean stores. 



180 A Message for You. 

Not one has done so to the detriment of his husi- 
ness. But in every case there has been a distinct 
gain in the standing of the business in the commu- 
nity. 

Some writer has said that 95 per cent of the work- 
ing men of America use tobacco. We remember how 
generally the male members of the church use it, and 
that its effect is to benumb the moral sense to that 
degree that it unspiritualizes the users and makes 
futile the effort to promote a spiritual religion. It 
is an indulgence that cultivates selfishness and a lack 
of the spirit of self-denial which are essential con- 
siderations in being a disciple of Jesus. 

IS TOBACCO USING A SIN. 

Professing Christians say that tobacco using is a 
useless and filthy habit, but they protest that its use 
is not sinful. They defend themselves against the 
charge of sin in the thing which they condemn. 

Let us see: Is it is a sin to use tobacco? If to- 
bacco eonsumes the people's money; injures the 
health ; defiles the human body ; tends to shorten life ; 
weakens the mental powers and lowers the moral 
sense ; causes the user to selfishly disregard the com- 
forts, convenience and even the health of others ; if 
the millions spent by church members are needed by 
the poor and destitute of the land, and in mission 
fields where the degraded of earth perish for want 
of the gospel which cannot be sent to them for lack 
of money, how in the world can the use of the poi- 
sonous weed be anything but sinful? 



A Message for You. 181 

1. It is a physical sin to use tolDacco as the nicotine 
it contains is a poison to the body. Its use is a 
physical sin whether the user knows or believes that 
to'bacco is injurious. Science and human experience 
prove this. 

2. The tobacco habit becomes a spiritual sin when 
the user knows the evil of the weed. As we say, if 
he has "the lig'ht" on the subject. If he is ignorant 
of its evil effects it is not a spiritual sin to him, but 
a physical sin. But when he sees the light and walks 
in darkness he is a sinner before God and his eon- 
science. The words apply here: "He that doubt- 
€th is condemned. To him that knoweth to do good 
and doeth it not to him it is sin.'' 

Some reader may say I have been a slave of King 
Nicotine for many years and would like to quit his 
domain. How may I? 

You propose a great undertaking, but be of good 
cheer. "Where there's a will there's a way." 

1. Set your will. Stand like a rock. Resolve, 
"I quit or die." No temporizing. No experiment- 
ing. iSay, " I 'm done, ' ' and mean it for life or death. 

If the tobacco patient could take hot 'baths for a 
few days, thus sweating the poison out of his system 
it woidd greatly facilitate his cure. But back of all 
expedients must be the will resolutely fixed. 

2. Thousands of men redeemed from the slavery 
of tobacco and whiskey testify that when they craved 
deliverance from the grip of the vice more than they 
craved anything else, and sought and trusted Grod in 



182 A Message for You, 

tfheir extremity, they were delivered. So marvel- 
ously delivered that in many instances the very taste 
foT the stimnlant was gone. They came to loathe 
it, and rejoiced in perfect victory over a depraved 
appetite. 

We have a mighty iSavior. He is a very present 
help in times of need. Trust him with all your heart. 
He will save you from this awful hahit — ^hateful alike 
to God and man. 



A Message for You. 183 

CH'AiPTEE XXVI. 
THE DEFECTS OF OTHERS. 

"There is so much good in the worst of us; 

There is so much of bad in the best of us; 

It is not becoming in any of us 

To speak ill of the rest of us." — Motto. 

"Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine 
own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the 
mote that is in thy brother's eye." — Jesus. 

How conscious we are of the defects of others. 
What a hig'h standard we set up for those around us. 
How just they must be, how generous, true and sin- 
cere. They may not he Christians but our spirits 
demand that they shall be perfect and right, pure 
and good. 

Even children must manifest grace and thought 
beyond their years. They must appreciate us, thank 
us for every favor, say the right word and be silent 
■when they should not speak, and always respond 
cheerfully to their duty. 

"let folks be folks.'" 

Onr standard of right living for others is high. 
Our sense of justice, as it applies to them, is rigid. 
"What Christians the world would be if the standard 
we set up for our neighbors and friends and those 
around us in the family and society prevailed. But 
1;hey are people with passions like ourselves. There 
is a great deal of human nature in them. They are 
apt to watch their own interests and guard against 



184 A Message for You. 

» 

us as we wattch and guard against them. They ex- 
pect as much of us las we do of them. 

A few considerations may help us to let patience 
have her perfect work. 

Our lot is Grod's appointment. Take the family 
for instance. The model family consists of children 
of all ages. The parents represent mature years and 
grandparents old age. 

CHILD CULTURE. 

How much parents bear at the hands of children. 
They come into the world like little animals with 
everything to learn. They don't even know the way 
to their mouths. Work with children must be ''line 
upon line and precept upon precept." Their bod- 
ies are to make ; their minds to educate ; their hearts 
to culture and their characters to form. 

What a work! It is the sculptor working upon 
the rougih block of marble. The marble, however, 
lies still and endures chisel and mallet and brush 
without resistance, but the child may develop will- 
ful tendencies to despoil the work of the parent 
artist. 

The child may suffer fro'm defects of parents. They 
may place burdens upon children which are grievous 
to be borne, burdens the outgrowth of ignorance and 
willfulness. They may enforce obedience to unjust 
demands because they are older and stronger. No 
doubt children are provoked to wrath by parents 
who are defective in wisdom and love and who lack 
self-control. 



A Message for You. 185 

diildreii endure much from the aged. Their 
nerves are weak; their bodies frail; their strength 
weakness. Having entered their second childhood 
they are weak in everything, perhaps, but in self- 
wiil and conceit. Often must the patient mother 
say: "Never mind, children, it is only grandpa and 
he don't mean anything by it. We must remember 
that he is geting old. ' ' 

THE AGED. 

Looking at the family from the standpoint of the 
aged we see how much they endure. The romps, 
yells, and willfulness of the children are exasper- 
ating to weak nerves. 

They tear everything to pieces. How ignorant 
and forgetful. They seem different from children 
wihen they were young. 

Their -own children, "the parents — donH seem to 
know how to train children. Why don't they keep 
the children quiet? Why don't they make them 
mind? Why do they allow this, and why do they 
not require the other?" And there is no end 
to misunderstandings. So that generally old people 
prefer to live alone. 

WORK OF PATIENCE. 

It will be of help to remember that Ood has placed 
the solitary in families that he might raise a 
goodly seed. Our lot is God's appointment. It is 
for our good. Not only the excellencies but the do 
ficiencies of others are for our education and train- 
ing. 



186 A Message for You. 

The defects of others, properly borne, work in u-s 
patience. Perhaps we grow in grace more rapidly 
snrroTinded by ungracious, angular people, if we do 
not murmur or complain on account of their evil, 
than if they were without their short-comings. 

YOURSELF. 

But suffice to say we never meet ideal conditions. 
"We are in the presence of people who have infirmi- 
ties. In mercy it is decreed that ''all things work 
together for good to them that love the Lord. ' ' Even 
the wrath of the man is ordained to praise G-od. So 
let us praise him whatever our surroundings. 

'But ''ten thousand of the greatest faults in our 
neigihbors are of less consequence to us than one of 
the smallest in ourselves.'* 

The following verses by 'S. W. Gillilan in "Suc- 
cess," on "Watch Yourself Oo By," are pertinent: 

"Just stand aside and watch yourself go by; 
Think of yourself as "he," instead of "I." 
Note, closely as in other men you note, 
The bag-kneed trousers and the seedy coat. 
Pick flaws ; find faults ; forget the man is you, 
And strive to make your estimate ring true. 
iConfront yourself and look you in the eye — 
Just stand aside and watch yourself go by. 

"Interpret all your motives just as though 
You looked on one whose aims you did not know. 



A Message for You. 187 

Let undisguised contempt surge through you when 
You see you shirk, commonest of men! 
Despise your cowardice ; condemn whate 'er 
You note of falseness in you anywhere. 
Defend not one defect that shames your eye — 
Just stand aside and watch yourself go hy. 

"And then with eyes unveiled to w^hat you loathe — 
To sins that with sweet charity you'd clothe — 
Back to your self -walled tenement you'll go 
With tolerance for all who dwell helow. 
The faults of others then will dwarf and shrink, 
Love's chain grow stronger by one mighty link — 
When you, with "he" as substitute for "I," 
Have stood aside and watched yourself go by." 



188 A Message for You. 

GHAiPTER XXVII. 

A FOBOIYINO SPIKIT. 

"A little explained, a little endured, 
A little forgiven, the quarrel is cured." 

— Wesley. 

S-o many bitter words; so many family quarrels! 
Nearly every cliurcli 'has its divisions and every 
neighborbo'od its feuds. The misunderstandings of 
poiitical parties seem as necessary as the parties 
themselves. One cause of the languishing state of 
Zion is a lack of love, a spirit of prejudice and hard- 
ness of heart. 

No man can he a 'Christian without the spirit of 
lOhrist; without the heart 'of forgiveness and love 
toward all men. 

If a man hates his enemy he cannot love God. He 
may be a church 'member and 'a moralist, but he can- 
not 'be a Christian. He may have the form but he 
cannot have the power of godliness. 

*'He that hateth his brother is in darkness, and 
walketh in darkness, and knoweth not wither 'he go- 
eth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes." I. 
John 2 :11. 

"We know that we have passed from death unto 
life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth 
not his brother abideth in death." 

** Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer; and 



A Message for You. 189 

ye know that no 'murderer 'hatih eternal life abiding 
in him." I. John 3:14, 15. 

LOVE IS THE GAUGE. 

We love Ood no more than we love man. Our 
love for man, even our enemies, is the gauge of our 
love for God. It registers our exact state before 
Ood. 

So important is a heart of forgiveness toward ev- 
ery child of man, that Jesus incorporates a petition 
for G-od's forgiveness, based on our forgiveness of 
man, in "The Lord's Prayer." This prayer has 
ibeen repeated the world over for the generations 
since Jesus was upon earth. 

The petition is, ''Forgive us our debts as we for- 
give our debtors." Matt. 6:12. Or, as recorded by 
Loike, "Forgive us our sins; ;for we also forgive 
every one that is indebted to us. ' ' Luke 11 :4. 

"As we forgive," indicates the measure — one 
equals the other. We ask forgiveness, "as we for- 
give." "For we also forgive," places the ground 
of our forgiveness upon the condition that we for- 
give. 

Jesus' ovni interpretation of the petition is, "If ye 
forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father 
will also forgive you. But if we forgive not men 
their tresspasses, neither will your Father forgive 
your trespasses. ' ' Matt. 11 :14-15. 

This is plain, and settles the matter 'as to the kind 
of heart God's child has. His is a forgiving heart. 



190 A Message for You. 

He can !have no other. His is a heart of love. Hate 
is of the devil. 

Not to forgive is to hold hatred. 

*'We know that we have passed from death unto 
life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth 
n'ot his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth 
his brother is a murderer : and ye know that no mur- 
derer hath eternal life abiding in him. " John 3 :14-15. 

SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN. 

Jesus pressed the forgiveness of enemies so earn- 
estly that impulsive Peter inquired, "Lord, how oft 
shall 'my brother sin against me, and I forgive him ? 
till iseven times T' Jesus said unto him, "I say not 
unto thee, until seven times : but until seventy times 
seven." Matt. 18:21-22. 

Peter seemed to think there was a limit to pa- 
tience. 'Seven times seemed <a sufficient trial — seven 
the limit. Human love says there is '^a limit at 
■which forbearance ceases to be a virtue." But Je- 
sus allows no limit to forgiveness. 

The spirit of forgiveness partakes of the divine na- 
ture, whose love is boundless and free. 

** There's a wideness in Cod's mercy, 
Like the wideness of the sea; 
There's a kindness in his justice, 
"Which is more than liberty." 

*'For the love of 'God is broader 

Than the measure of man 's mind ; I 



A Messacfe for You. 191 

And the heart of the Eternal 
Is most wonderfully kind." 

But it is said that we are not to forgive if there 
is no repentance. I have noticed that those who talk 
thus usually hold grudges and harbor "roots of bit- 
terness.'* Their attitude is one of self-defense — 
their hearts are not filled with love. Harshness, 
prejudice and ill-will rule them. 

""father forgive them." 

Jesus, while suffering on the cross prayed for his 
enemies : "Father, forgive them ; they know not what 
they do." 

Did not the martyr 'Stephen, with face shining as 
an angel's, as his enemies were stoning him to death, 
cry in pitying love, "Lord Jesus, lay not this sin to 
their charge ' ' ? Does not Jesus say, ' ' When ye stand 
praying, forgive if ye have ought against any ' ' ? 

But it is replied that Jesus said, "if thine enemy 
repent forgive him." This is to ibe interpreted in 
harmony with 'other Scriptures. We are to have the 
spirit of forgiveness flowing thTOUgih 'Our hearts as a 
health giving stream. The spirit of forgiveness is to 
be our breath, the atmosphere of our souls, our life. 

THE SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS. 

This attitude of soul is independent of the spirit of 
my •enemy toward me. This temper is to be main- 
tained until I die. And if my enemy -at any time 
repents and says so, I am to manifest the spirit that 



192 A Message for You. 

is in my my heart toward him, and to speak the word 
of forgiveness to his sorrow stricken heart. 

One may love persons whom i-t is not prudent to 
associate with on intimate terms. The apostle ex- 
horts, *'As mnch as lieth in you, live peaceably with 
■all men." There are those who will not live peace- 
ably with the Christian. His presence arouses a 
spirit of resentment. Toward such persons the child 
of Ood must not entertain enmity, but stand ready to 
perform any good office in his power. 

I CANNOT FORGIVE. 

''But I have been deeply wronged and cannot for- 
give. Every atom of my being revolts against it. 
My enemy is not worthy. ' ' 

It may be impossible to unaided human nature, but 
'God requires it; your own heart dem'ands it; and 
your enemy exacts it of you. His salvation may 
hinge upon it. It is your ''reasonable service" as a 
Christian. It is just to yourself. Your enemy in- 
jured you. Shall you inflict another iajury upon 
yourself by nursing the grudge? 

And it can be done. You must forgive if you 
would be a child of heaven. 

When you want to forgive more than to cherish 
the injury, you will forgive. As you have power to 
hold, you have power to dislodge the grudge from 
your heart. iGod would 'be unjust to exact what 
'Cannot he done. Therefore, you can forgive. 

Impossible ? ' ' The things that are impossible with 
man are possihle with God. ' ' He is able to make all 



A Message for You. 193 

grace abound to you. His promise is : " My grace 

is sufficient for thee.'^ 

DROP IT. 

'Can 't forgive ? Better say, ' ' I will not forgive. I 
•ch'oose to cherisli the grudge." 

I hold a weight in my hand. How may I drop it? 
Just let go and it will fall of its own weight. You 
can't? You can, if you will. It is for you to will to 
■drop the weight. When you do so, your hand un- 
clasps and the burden falls. 

So with spiritual burdens. 

So with the weight of unforgiveness that burdens 
your heart. It is grievous to be borne. How may I 
be rid of it? Just let go and down it falls. But I 
'Oan't without Good's help. Thanks be to G-od which 
giveth us the victory. We have His help. He is a 
present help in time of need. He helpeth our infirm- 
ities. When we will to do good, Grod is in our will. God 
is working in us to will and do of His good pleasure. 

FORGIVE AND FORGET. 

Two members were brought before the ehurch for 
quarreling. One said, ' ' I can forgive but I will nev- 
er forget ihim." 

The gentleman relating the circumstance 'said in 
his quaint way: ''We need to be good forgetters, as 
well as good forgivers." 

It is true that when we really forgive we tend to 
forget. We do not like to dwell upon the trouble. 
We drop it out of our thoughts, conversation and 
plans, and it comes to pass, finally, that we can 



194 A Message for You. ^ 

scarcely recall the circumstance that tmade us grieve. 

We are like two little girls wlio were crying. One 
of them stopped in the 'midst of her sobs and said, 
**What is the matter with us? What are we crying 
about?" 

The writer's mother related a circumstance which 
occurred in the old country. I have since heard a 
similar story wherever I have been. A sick man 
called his >enemy to his bedside and said that 'he 
thought he was dying and wanted to forgive and he 
forgiven, as he could not die in peace without this. 
The formalities of reconciliation were passed through 
and all necessary words were said. But as his friend, 
the enemy, was turning to go away, the dying man 
called him back, saying: ''Mind you this holds if I 
<iie, but if I get well things between us will be as they 



were.** 



TRUTH IN THE INWAED PARTS. 

The vital thing in getting right with Grod and man 
is genuineness. Reality is the coin that heaven hon- 
ors. Ood requires truth in the inward parts. We 
are to give up sin and turn from it, and stamp iniq- 
uity (Out of our hearts by an utter abhorrence of it. 
Forever it remains true that what we put away God 
takes away. 



A Message for You. 195- 

CHAPTEE XXVIII. 

BOW TO OET LOVE. 

"Love is not a thing of emotion and gush. It is a strong,, 
manly, vigorous expression of the whole character and 
nature in its fullest development. And these things (men- 
tioned in the 13th chapter of ist Corinthians) are only to 
be acquired by daily and hourly practice. Don't quarrel 
therefore with your lot in life." — Henry Drummond. 

In a childless liome the wife had long felt that 
they should care for some orpihan. She told her 
husband that they were failing in their duty. The 
<jonviction deepened, with the years, so that she felt 
led to take an orphan into their home. 

They surmounted the fear that they might not 
love a strange child. 

While visiting an orpihanage one day they saw a 
number of children who needed homes, hut none ap- 
pealed to them as being the child they wanted. 

A SICK BABE. 

*'Are there other ohildren here?" they asked. 

''Only a sick baby, that you would not want/* was ■ 
the reply. 

But when the wife looked into the face of the tiny 
three-months old she fell in love with it and said 
that she would like to take it home. 

*'You must not think of taking that baby. It 
won't live," they said. 

**But," she replied, **I would like to have it." Andl 
they took the babe home. 



196 A Message for You. 

When the neighbors saw its sickly condition, they 
shook their heads ; soime were significantly silent. 
''Oould you not get a healthy cihild?" they would 
ask; "this little thing will be so much care, and we 
do not think it will live. ' ' 

The five remaining weeks of its life were weeks of 
suffering. The quiet home became at once nursery 
and hospital. A portion of the time the adopted pa- 
rents did not remove their clothing for sleep. But 
they did not weary; 'heaven seemed to be especially 
near and propitious in their trial. 

OUR VERY OWN. 

*'I am surprised at my husband's patience," said 
•the wife. 

But he replied, ''If I were tempted to impatienee, 
I had only to look into those little eyes and every 
evil thought was gone." 

When the brief day ended, for the best medical 
skill and nursing did not save it, the husband said, 
"I would gladly 'have sacrificed business, given up 
my 'home, and all that I have on earth if that would 
'have saved her life." 

The wife, with a mother's heart of love reflecting 
upon fhe whole strange providence, said: ''AH that 
the papers said about our ba'be was true, with one 
exception: Our darling was not a burden. What 
w-e did was a pleasure. To wait upon her was our 
delig^ht. We wish that we could have saved her life. 
But we c ould not have done more for our very own. ' ' 

The circumstance, among other things, teaches how 



A Message for You. 197 

we may get love when love is most needed and 
tested : 

DUTY A BIG WORD. 

First, Inhere was conviction of duty, and the sense 
>oi G-od's leading. 

Second, they obeyed the voice of duty in doing 
what people naturally shrink from. 

Third, sacrificing the lower to the higher nature 
they found love. Deeper than every self-denial was 
the sense of God's presence and keeping power. As 
they followed the plain path of duty, not closing 
their hearts to the cry of the needy, love grew till it 
'became a ruling passion stronger than death. Love 
transformed hard duty into 'a thing of beauty and a 
joy forever. 

TO LOVE PEOPLE SERVE THEM. 

We usually think that if we are to love people they 
must serve us. But the reverse is true, if we would 
love people we must serve them and the more we 
sacrifice for them the greater is our love. We warm 
our bodies and develop our muscles by exercise. 
Thus love grows. This is the law. 

Ot^hers may have brave, strong hearts of love and 
expend the wealth of their affections upon us, but 
that is their love, not ours ; and it may not more af- 
fect us than the food they eat or the exercise they 
take. 

If you would love people much, do imuch for them. 
This explains the deep sorrow of the family upon 
the death of a cripple child who all his life has been 



198 A Message for You. 

a care. Every one in the family waits "upon Mm and 
so increases their love for him ; and when he dies he 
is more mourned perhaps than any lOne in the home 
would be. 

Ohas. H. Parkhurst, D. D., has said: "Reading 
about love, listening to sermons aibout love, studying 
what the gospel has to say about love, may give us 
quite accurate ideas upon the subject; but what we 
want is love, and not ideals of love! And the only 
way to win that is to set at practical work so much 
or so little love as we may already possess.'^ 



A Message for You. 199 

OHAPTECR XXIX. 

LOVE A^BOXJIXDIN^iG. 

"Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, 
and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with 
all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." — Bible. 

Almsgiving may exist with a heart of prejudice. 
But love is benevolence, the fountain of charitable 
deeds. 

The Scriptures exhort the church to sincere, earn- 
-est, fervent love. Ordinary love is not sufficient. 
Intense love — ^love at wfhite heat, hurns through bar- 
riers of prejudice and sin. 

can't weld cold IRON". 

The blacksmith does not attempt to weld cold iron, 
or even iron red hot, but he subjects the metal to 
hottest flames. At white heat he applies the hammer 
and two pieces of metal become one — indissolubly 
one as though they never had been two. So love at 
wihite heat welds hearts and unites discordant ele- 
ments of family, church and society. 

Why should our love be a deep, pervasive princi- 
ple? Because love is the hond of perfectness. Ool. 
3 :14. Love binds all the 'Christian graces, co-ordi- 
nates and harmonizes them. 

Second, our love should be fervent 'because love 
^covers a multitude of sins. A heart hot with love 
will consume faults and defects of others as shavings 
are consumed in hot flames. 



200 A Message for You. 

I stood in the presence of a powerful artesian well. 
As the water gushed from the earth I threw a stone 
into it. The force of the bubbling current was so 
(great that contrary to gravitation, the stone did not 
sink, but was rejected as an intruder. The heart 
bubbling up with an artesian fountain of Grod's love 
will throw back slights, insults, and injuries thrown 
at it as extraneous matter. 

Love does not play false to humamty by shielding 
the thief or murderer. On the other hand it takes 
no pleasure in parading another's sihortcomingfs. 
Love covers all faults as a mother coimpassionates an 
erring child. She speaks with joy of his excellent 
traits of character, and only speaks of evil when nec- 
essary for the good of the child or the glory of Ood. 

We need fervent love because of differences of 
opinion and prejudice among men. 

THE MASON AND DIXON" LINE. 

Men born North or South of the Mason-Dixon line 
have different views socially and politically. We in- 
herit many of our prejudices and opinions. The 
iSouth fougiht and prayed for the rebellion. While 
men north of the Ohio river had other views and 
pointed their bayonets and prayers in a different di- 
rection. 

Family influences mould character. One child is 
brought up in a iG^od fearing home, w^here the Bible 
is read and prayer offered and life lived on high lev* 
els. The character of another is formed amidst god- 



A Message for You. 201 

less surroundings, where vice prevails, where gold is 
God, and might is right, and low ideals reign. 

THE king's trouble. 

A king was troubled with agitations and differ- 
ences among his subjects. But when he found that 
twelve clocks could not be made to keep time to- 
gether, he thought more soberly. How can I expect 
my subjects to think and act alike on all questions? 

Differences religious, political and social will al- 
ways exist. Men will not, or cannot think alike, but 
we can love above all differences. Love is the solvent 
that will bind us together as one. 

We need intense love, because lOur interests seem 
to conflict. They do not conflict, they only seem to. 
A man who has a horse or cow to sell, nev- 
er insists that he must sell the anim<al at half 
price, and the buyer never makes the mistake of say- 
ing that he will not buy the animal unless he pays 
twice her value. The buyer is apt to say, ''It is 
naught, it is naught," till he huys, and when he is 
the possessor he goes away and makes his boasts. 

SELF A BIG FELLOW. 

Some come to the front with the motto, self, first, 
last and all the time. iSelf, right or wrong. And 
these self-centered characters are in the church. 
They are in political parties, in business circles and 
in the home. They are everyw'here. When we meet 
crooked, gnarled, twisted, stunted characters, we will 
need much love to cover their defects or bear their 
sins. 



202 A Message for You. 

Men's prejudices form barriers between 'them. 
Tibere are innoeent and there are harmful prejudices. 
Susanna Wesley told her son John that people were 
influenced ten times by prejudice to one by pure roa- 
is'on. It seeims to me that she was a wise woman. 

When we inquire why men are Republicans or 
Democrats, Catholics or Protestants, we are free to 
admit that we largely inherit our views from our fa- 
thers, mothers and surroundings. And they receiv- 
ed them as an inheritance from their beloved ances- 
try and environments, and so on, world without end. 
We have little that is original and little of wihich to 
boast. 

PREJUDICE. 

People's prejudices are precious to them. 'They 
would not part with them for a price. Men have 
even fought and died for them. But we cannot 
•change all men to see and feel as we do, even on mat- 
ters that we think are clear ias day and of vital in- 
terest. 

A net work of influences running in every direct- 
ion, form deep ruts in church, family and state. 
These form what are called *'easte" in the old world, 
and ou.r *'set," ''click," ''party," or "denomina- 
tion" in the new world. These cannot be obliter- 
ated; 'but love, deep, true and fervent will bind us, 
with all differences together as one, and will cover 
as a mantle a .multitude of prejudices and defects, 
and actual sins. 

Men are circumscribed in their lives. We get 



A Message for You. 203 

partial views of truth. Paul says, * ' We know in part 
and we prophesy in part." We see truth from dif- 
ferent angles. Our limited knowledge modifies our 
views and convictions of duty. Hence it becomes us 
not to boast of our attainments, but rather, to glory 
in our infirmities. 

John Calvin got hold of the truth of the sovereign- 
ty of God. It was a truth great enough to engross 
his life. But John Wesley got hold of another truth, 
the freedom of man. These truths were central in 
their theologies and their powers of intellect were 
devoted to the elaboration and advocacy of these 
truths. 

But neither of these Johns got hold of the whole 
truth. Each discovered a hemisphere and by uniting 
them we have the sphere — the sovereignty of 'God 
and the freedom of the human will. 

We boast of our churches. One sings : 

*'I am a Methodist born. 

And a Methodist bred, 

And when I am gone 

There will be a. 'Methodist dead.*' 

Another straightens himself to his full height and 
says, **I am a Presbyterian to the back-ibone. ' * While 
another insists that you are never iScripturally bap- 
tized iuntii you are buried with Him in Baptism, and 
hence, when you get just right we can fellowship 
you. 



204 A Message for You. 

This writer has thougiht that great and useful as 
the evangelical denominations are, none of them em- 
bodies the whole truth. The truth that all of them 
teach is needed to encompass the whole realm. And 
then vast oceans of fathomless, divine truth in na- 
ture and revelation will lie beyond the widest reach 
of human thought. 

Our partial knowledge should drive us to our 
knees with the prayer, that sincere, earnest love may 
burn away every barrier of pride, ignoranc e and sin. 

LOVE OF ENEMIES. 

Fervent love will enable us to love our enemies. 
The average good will that prevails is not enough. 
The test of a 'man's Ohristianity is not that he loves 
his wife, children and friends, ibut that he loves his 
enemies. 

The world over, men do not make the mistake of 
naturally loving their enemies. You cannot culture 
the disposition, to hate their enemies, out of men. 
Digging out Greek roots does not remove the roots of 
bitterness from the human heart. To change the 
natural heart so that we may love those who hate 
us land would despitefuliy use us is the work of the 
Holy Spirit. God only ean do it in answer to prayer. 
To love our enemies is the final test of the Christian 
because it is of God. 



A Message for You. 205 

CHAPTEE XXX. 
JESUS O'XLY. 

"Every virtue we possess, 
And every victory won, 
And every thought of holiness 
Is His and His alone." 

"What can wash away my sins? 
Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 
What can make me whole again? 
Nothing but the blood of Jesus." 

Do we realize that Jesus only can save us? Have 
we no desire but for Him? Is He the ambition of 
QTir lives? Does He satisfy the longing of the soul? 

MOEALITY WILL NOT SAVE. 

Do we trust Jesus and prayer? Jesus and good 
works? Jesus and our good lives? Jesus and good 
resolutions? Jesus and the church? Jesus ajid the 
money we pay to the church? Jesus and church 
membership? Jesus and the sacraments? Or do we 
trust Jesus only? Ah reader, Jesus alone can save. 
He alone can do helpless sinners good. He alone is 
able to save to the uttermost. Ajid He will not give 
His glory to another. 

Morality, good feelings, money, respectability, 
church membership, baptism, noble birth or some 
form of idolatry may hold the soul in bondage. The 
multitudes rest in these. But to swing free of these 
as a dependence is necessary, for Jesus alone saves. 

The sinner coming to Jesus must say: 



206 A Message for You, 

** No tiling either great or small, 

Remains for me to do. 
Jesus died and paid it all, 
Yes, all tlie debt I owe/* 
When he says this with all his heart he will 
exultantly exclaim: 

'"Thou O Christ, art all I want, 
More than all in Thee I find." 

PENANCE. 

We want to do something to earn salvation. We 
will do penance. We will do anything rather than 
trust Jesus. But God says, salvation is by grace 
ta;ken as we take any other gift. Gifts are not 
earned. They are accepted. They are received by 
faith. 

iBut we would earn salvation. We would pay for 
it iu tears or agony ; in gifts, money, or meritorious 
deeds. But to receive it us a free gift, humbles pride 
and disappoints us. We do not like that. But it is 
Ood^s gracious way. 

ONLY TRUST HIM. 

'Suppose a soul is seeking the cleansing fountain. 
It is often difficult, after all known sin is relinquish- 
ed, to swing free of every human dependence, and 
trust Jesus only. 

If we do not feel that we are saved, it is often hard 
to believe that we are saved. To take Jesus to be 
our Saviour, with or without any feeling, or against 
feeling, that is faith. It must come to that. Jesus 
will have no rival. Jesus alone saves. And faith is 



A Message for You. 207 

the hand that readies out for the ''pearl of great 
price." 

A NEW RELIGION. 

Mr. Spnrgeon said, "there is a desire, today, to be 
intellectual, deep and novel. Men seek development 
in religion, as in scien'ce. They want something new. 
But we need the gospel of ''Jesus only,'' the same 
as our fathers did. The changes in the gospel create 
deformities. 

"I find if I want to labor much, I must live in Je- 
sus only. If I desire to suffer patiently, I must feed 
on Jesus only. If I wish to wrestle with God suc- 
cessfully, I must plead Jesus only. If I aspire to 
conquer sin, I must use the blood of Jesus only. If I 
want to learn the mysteries of heaven I must search 
the teachings of Jesus Christ." 

* ' "WThen we are in sorrow, how we feel the need of 
Jesus only. In health and prosperity we can get 
along with religion in a general way but sorrow 
drives us to the only source of help. To get away 
from 'Outward appearances to the very heart of re- 
ligion brings us to Jesus only. 

When our hearts say, "Jesus only," there will be 
mo acihing void. He will take our sin away and toucb 
the great depths of our being with peace which pass- 
eth understanding, and love that is boundless and 
free. 

"Jesus, my Saviour is all things to me; 

Oh, ivhat a wonderful Saviour is He, 

Guiding, protecting, 'o'er life's rolling sea; 

Mighty Deliverer — Jesus for me." 



208 A Message for You. 

OHAPTE'R XXXI. 
BiLOfO© AXD FIRE. 

''This powerless powder and powerless ball are put in 
the powerless cannon: one spark of fire enters it; and 
then, in the twinkle of an eye that powder is a flash of 
lightning, and that cannon ball is a thunderbolt, which 
smites as if it had been sent from heaven. So with our 
church-machinery: we have all the instruments necessary 
for the pulling down of strongholds; and oh, for the bap- 
tism of fire!" — Wm. Arthur in Tongues of Fire. 

'The words, ''Blood and Fire" were printed in 
large letters on a iSalvation Army hall. Inside the 
soldiers were singing: 

"Thou Christ of burning, cleansing flame, 

Send the fire ! 
Thy bloo'd-bought gift today we claim, 

Send the fire ! 
Look down and see this waiting host, 
Give us the promised Holy Ohost, 
We want (another Pentecost, 

Send the fire!" 

I said the gospel of "blood and fire" is the need 
of this crowd. The Captain is redeemed from 
'Whiskey and tobacco. Others are saved from 
lives of shame. The audience was made up of poor, 
ignorant people. But they were redeemed and 
good soldiers. 

I said these people do not need a gospel of Ethics. 



A Message for You, 209 

Popular religious cults with fine spun theories lack 
power to grip and hold sinful men. A gospel of 
''hlo'od and fire" only will reach drunkards, harlots 
and those who meet life w^th serious handicaps. 

No 'wonder the soldiers sing and shout, blow the 
ihorn, beat on drum and bang on trombone : 

''God of Elijah, hear our cry, 

Send the fire ! 
He'll make us fit to live or die, 

8end the fire ! 
To burn up every trace of sin, 
To bring the light and glory in, 
The revolution now begin, 

Send the fire!'' 

The blood is the atonement made for sin. We 
plead that. In the presence of sin and weakness 
and in the absence of merit or power we cry : 

"The blood, the blood is all my plea. 
Hallelujah, it cleanseth me." 

Fire is the cleansing of. the Holy Spirit. The bap- 
tism with the Holy Grhost results in the purification 
of the heart from all sin. The fire of the Holy Spirit 
consumes the dross and reprobate silver of the hu- 
man heart and leaves the pure metal of God's love 
without alloy. 

Sing on, ye soldiers : 

'Tis fire we want, for fire we plead. 
Send the fire! 



210 A Message for You. 

The fire will meet our every need, 

Send the fire! 
For strength to ever do the right, 
For grace to conquer in the fight. 
The power to walk the world in white, 

Send the fire!'' 

From the Salvation Army go to a well-to-do 
church. It might be called the (church of the upper 
strata. Wealth and culture are there. A congre- 
gation of well fed, well clothed, well housed people 
are apparently well satisfied with themselves. 

Among the leaders are card-playing, dancing, 
playhouse-going members. They are not to be re- 
buked. They have money, position and influence and 
can dictate. But they trifle precious time away in 
the name of religion. The poet said, 

' ' Life is real, life is earnest, ' ' 
but they treat time, the stuff life is made of, as 
sometdiing to be gotten rid of. Like children they 
play church. They are 'busy doing little to 
the purpose of the Kingdom. The big question 
seems to be how to amuse themselves. If any diffi- 
culty arises the antidote seems to be some social 
function. Entertainment is the prescribed pan- 
acea for the ills of the church for both old and 
young. 

The prayer meeting was slimiy attended. The 
■class meeting was soberly said to be for the 
old people. Every scheme of raising money 
for the church was urged upon the people. 



A Message for You. 211 

except God's metliod, the "tithe. A worldly 
financial policy kept the church a beggar. Disci- 
pline was a dead letter. A large part of the church 
seemed to ibe without positive knowledge of salva- 
tion. And the church generally seemed to be with- 
out a great impelling motive to save the world. 

Reflecting upon this condition we again read the 
remedy in the motto, ''blood and fire." This cry 
is deeper than the need for money, beyond the call 
for fine church architecture, more imperative than 
pulpit eloquence or music. 

THE RELIGION" OF CULTURE. 

Culture, influence and wealth will not remove the 
stigma of sin and death. These may exist while sin 
runs riat and death reigns. There is absolutely no 
substitute for salvation, for holiness of heart and 
life. But with the blood of Jesus cleansing away 
sin, and the fire of the Holy Spirit burning upon the 
heart, there is peace and happiness ; there is a fruit- 
ful life, the life 'more abundant. 

Church of the living God, to your knees that you 
may receive the mighty baptism which will empower 
you to wage battle against sin and for holiness. And 
which will cause you to be more than conquerors in 
a world of sin, sorrow and death. 

''Refining fire go through my heart, 

Illuminate my soul, 
'Scatter thy rays through every part, 

And sanctify the whole. ' ' 



212 .A Message for You. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

EAITH AT WOBK. 

"Walk boldly and wisely in that light thou hast; 
There is a hand above will help thee." 

I ride on the ligiMning express. I do not know 
the engineer, conductor, fireman, brakeman, train- 
dispatcher, roadmen, makers of the engine or cars, 
'but I place my life in their hands. 

I pass switches, ride over high tressel work, take 
the side-track to allow passing trains to thunder by, 
but I sit quietly reading my newspaper, or chatting 
with my fellow passengers. I do not question wheth- 
er every man is at his post of duty and all is right, 
I simply keep my seat and expect to reach my des- 
tination in safety and on time. 

This is faith as applied to railroad travel. 

A HOTEL TABLE. 

I seat myself at a hotel table and eat what is be- 
fore me, fish from the lakes, fruits from the tropics, 
grains from the North. I do not question the cook, 
or the servants ; I do not ask if the meat is tainted, if 
'the milk comes from consumptive cows, if the cook- 
ing is sanitary, whether poison has 'been placed in 
the food, but eat and enjoy myself, asking no ques- 
tions. 

But my attitude toward the landlord, cook, wait- 
ers, gro'cerymen, butcher, millers, milkmen, and ev- 
ery one w'ho has in any way touc'hed or handled what 



A Message for You. 213 

I eat is one of faith. It is faith as applied to eating. 
It is unquestioning everyday faith. To do differ- 
ently would be a lack of faith, and broadly speaking, 
a lack of common sense. 

A BAXK DEPOSITOR. 

I go to the bank and deposit the earnings of years, 
my possessions, per'haps thousands or hundreds of 
thousands of dollars. I carry a litle slip of paper or 
a book crediting me with my deposit. That is all. 

I walk around saying, * ' I am worth a thousand, or 
a hundred thousand dollars. It is in the bank." 

My attitude toward the president, cashier, direct- 
ors and all w^ho handle or have charge of my money, 
is one of faith in their honesty and capacity and the 
trustworthiness of the bank. 

I cannot do otherwise. I trust them. I am glad 
to trust them to fulfill their pledge and do what the 
bank stands for. 

THE MARRIAGE TIE. 

It is impossible to do business without faith. We 
trust men. We trust circumstances. We trust G-od. 

We cannot do an^'thing; we cannot write a letter; 
ride on the train; eat a meal; take a walk; go to 
sleep ; work or converse with our fellow men with- 
out faith. We cannot plant, sow, harvest, or build 
without it. ''Without faith it is impossilble to please 
Grod" or man. 

Faith enters as a large element into all life. De- 
stroy it and society degenerates. Destroy it and 
man retrogrades to barbaric conditions. 



214: A Message for You. 

THE MARRIAGE TIE. 

That most sacred tie — ihe marriage relation, could 
not 'be entered without faith. We think of love as 
the chief ingredient in marriage, hut faith is at the 
foundation of love. Love is impossible without faith. 
I mean the love of approbation which leads to mar- 
riage. 

EVEN TXIE DOCTOR. 

'The physician comes to your home when the life of 
your precious child is in peril. You have done all 
that you know and dare not trust yourself. You 
place the loved one under the wise physician's care. 
You say, "Doctor, do what you can. Let the cost 
)be what it will. Only save our child. ' ' His orders 
are regarded as though he were the Czar of Russia. 
You anticipate his wishes. We know what it is to 
jtrust our lives and those we love in the hands of the 
physician. 

PURITY BY FAITH. 

There is another application of faith and that is to 
the Christian life. G^od in wisdom has made faith 
in Christ the condition of our salvation. 

The teaching is, that hy grace are you saved 
through faith. He that believeth hath everlasting 
life. "For Cod so loved the world that he gave his 
inly begotten 'Son that whosoever believeth on Him 
might not perish but have everlasting life." Of. 
Ahraham it was said, "His faith was counted to him 
for righteousness." Our hearts are "purified by 
faith. " "We walk by faith. " "We live hy faith. ' ' 



A Message for You. 215 

With all the exceeding great and precious prom- 
ises, we stum'ble at the way of simple faith. We sulb- 
stitute works, penace, good resolutions, gifts of mon- 
ey, prayers, anything for faith. 

We cannot see througih it. ''Why is it?" We 
-ask. ''What is faith? Why is G-od arbitrary to 
make faith the condition of salvation?" 

FAITH THE CONDITION. 

Faith is a ^condition that lall can accept. 
The rich and poor; the wise, the ignorant, the sick, 
the aged, and children. Any other condition would 
be impossible of universal application. 

Faith gives God the 'glory of our salva- 
tion. If it were by works or money, or according 
to ability, we might boast, "See we earned it ; we are 
•worthy." But since it is by grace through faith, 
no flesh can glory in His presence. The great and 
small of earth are on a level here. And both, when 
their faith reaches the throne 'Of grace, instinctively 
cry out, 'Glory to God! 

But faith is not an arbitrary condition in- 
jected into religion because God 'wills it. That would 
be enough were it true. 

THE HAND THAT RECEIVES. 

Faith is a condition that enters into all life. 
We receive everything in life by faith. I buy a 
farm and receive the deed to it, and with that piece 
of paper in my pocket I say, "that tract of land is 
mine. ' ' I cultivate it, pay taxes upon it, walk over 



216 A Message for You, 

it and treat is as mine. But I receive it bj faith. 

I present you my watch, saying, * * Take this wate^h, 
it is a gift to you." How can you receive it? In 
no way tat by fai-th. If you do not believe that I 
am a'ble or willing, you will not reach out your hand 
for it. 

80 faith is the hand that receives isalvation. Par- 
don, purity, keeping power, power for service and 
suffering and every needed grace are gifts received 
by faith. 

"Save us by grace througii faith alone. 

A faith thou must thyself impart ; 
A faith that would by works be shown, 

A faith that purifies the 'heart. 

*'A faith that doth the 'mountains move, 
A faith that shows our sins forgiven, 

A faith that sweetly works hy love, 
And ascertains our claims to heaven. 

''Lord, give us such a faith as this, 

And then wh'at'er m.ay eome. 
We'll taste, e'en here, the hallowed bliss 

Of our eternal home." 



A Message for You. 217 

CHjAPTEiE XXXIII. 
"SUCiH AS I HAVE." 

If God were lo commission two angels to go to earth, 
one to sweep the streets of a city, the other to rule a king- 
dom and were to leave them to choose which they would 
do, they would refer it back to Him, preferring His will 
to any position of their own choosing. — Anon. 

The lame beggar before the beautiful garte of the 
temple asking alms of Peter and John, is a picture 
pathetic to behold. A small coin was all he expect- 
ed. But in his persistence he pressed close to the 
temple gate to meet the multitudes and receive their 
alms. 

The apostles were poor men, not able to contribute 
the most meager coin. Apostles and prophets are 
'apt to be without money. The world is inclined to 
misunderstand, and use a little roughly God's min- 
isters. 

A SURPRISE. 

Peter, looking on him said, "Silver and gold have 
I none." This was disheartening. He expected 
something from preachers. They are surely men of 
heart, but they can give nothing. 

Peter continued, "But such as I have give I thee; 
in the name of Jesus, arise and walk." 

WHAT MONEY COULD BUY. 

There seems irony in the words. Peter h'ad a sur- 
prise in store for him. He had asked a mere pit- 



218 A Message for You. 

tance and Peter proposed to give him wtiat was 
above the price of rubies. He asked the smallest 
'Coin. Peter prop'osed to give him the greatest boon. 
The wealth of the Rockefellers could not purchase 
what Peter was about to confer upon the beggar. 

With a free interpretation of these words let us 
turn them to the right and left and see what they 
have of encouragement for earth's humble toilers. 

WHAT IS IN THY HAND. 

A Salvation Army Captain ordered to a city went 
without money, trusting Ood and the people for sup- 
port. 

A gentleman went with him to business men in the 
interest of his cause. The day's work brought a 
handsome return. But the gentleman him- 
self gave not a dollar. He could say, "Silver and 
gold have I none, ' ' but he gave such as he had. He 
gave his time, talents, influence, strength. And 
these the captain regarded as the greatest gift 'of the 
day. His gift resulted in money. What each did 
was necessary. Each in his place and according to 
his ability. 

A CUP OF COLD WATER. 

'''Such as I have." Do not hesitate — give it free- 
ly. Oive it without fear or stint. It is needed. It 
was given to you for use. Despise it not. It is from 
your Maker. Is it <money ? Oive it. It is not mon- 
ey, but may be worth more. It may do 'what money 
43annot do. It may be that a smile or a friendly 



A Message for You. 219 

grasp of the hand is needed. The human touch may 
go farther than money without it. 

' ' Little aots of kindness, little deeds of love, 
Make the earth an Eden like to that above." 
The world needs love more than money. In a ma- 
terialistic age this is a hard saying, difficult to be un- 
derstood. But it is ever true. Love is most costly. 
Money, at best, is a servant of love. 

A LETTER OF SYMPATHY. 

Your gift to a needy world may be the contribution 
of your pen. Withhold it not — ^neither despise it. 
It may be little, but it is your gift. Others may 
wield a mightier pen, but yours is your own, and 
there is a place for it. Money cannot take its place 
and others cannot do your work. 

The letter of sympathy to 'the bereaved one, who 
may estimate its value? It may cheer a drooping 
spirit and put new hope into a c-heerless heart. It 
may be a word of warning which may save some poor 
wanderer. 

Your contributions to the press may be as a mes- 
senger from heaven to some hungry souls. 

STITCH^ STITCH, STITCH. 

Your gift may be a needle. You ply it day and 
nig'ht, stitching the weary hours away. An obscure 
worker you are not thought of, except when needed. 
The pay is small. But the needle is in your hands. 
Nothing seems to take its place. It is your work. 
Do it well. Do it as unto the Lord. Many shall be 



220 A Message for You. 

'blessed by your patient toil and you shall not lose 
your reward. 

THE AX AND THE PLOW AS CIVILIZEES. 

An ax, hammer, shovel, plane, trowel, or plow may 
be in your hands. It may be that you face the world, 
saying, "iSuch as I have, I give." It is very little. 
It is very humble, but it is such as I have, and I 
give it. 

'Look at 'the v^raving icrops and remember the plow. 

See the cities as they dot the land and remember 
the sound of hammer, plane and saw. 

Behold the march of civilization and think what 
would have been accomplished without shovel and 
hammer ; horse and plow. And these are guided by 
you and millions of every day toilers like you. 

All honor to your work. Call it humble if you 
will, but depreciate it not. ''Despise not the day of 
small things.'' The world's progress would be at 
a, stand-still without your work, and the work of un- 
counted millions Who faithfully toil. Look up. You 
are one of the world's workers. 

WORDS ARE MIGHTY. 

Only a tongue? And people say there is nothing 
in talk. Don't believe it. The tongue is a little in- 
strument but it boasteth great things and does great 
things. Words are deeds. Words cause war and 
bring peace. The tongue is mightier than the pen 
or sword. People say don't talk, if you do not have 
money. Heed them not, hut say, "'Such as I have, I 
give. ' ' 



A Message for You. 221 

Because we cannot do all things shall we do noth- 
ing ? There are men of brains who do not have mon- 
ey -whose talk is directing capital, thong'h they may 
get no credit, or pay for it. 

Words are not cheap. They are costly. They 
have cost men their lives. 

DO XOT MINIFY YOUR WORE:. 

Do not say I am little and therefore had better 
not speak. Don't refuse your contribution because 
it is meager. 

''You have a work that no other ican do, 
Do it so nobly, so grandly, so well, 
Angels will hasten the glad story to tell." 
Your words may go to the ends of the earth. You 
have convictions that you are afraid to utter. The in- 
fluential might frown them down ? They are not pop- 
ular? Speak, and take the consequences. Speak, 
and die if need be. Explode, and let no man deny 
you the right. And fear not, God will take care of 
your message and you. Only speak for God and for 
man. 



23'2 A Message for You. 



OKAPTEiR XXXIV. 

EAIXT HEARTED. 

"Look up and not down, 

Look out and not in, 

Look forward and not back, 

Lend a hand." — Edward Everett Hale 

"And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which 
come of the giants: and. we were in our own sight as 
grasshoppers and so we were in their sight." — Bible. 

The sermon of the bishop at the annual Methodist 
Conference is always a marked occasion. The hishop 
who preached on that Sunday morning was a great 
preacher. The sermon was lofty in conception, mass- 
ive in thought and filled with spiritual insight. Its 
delivery was attended with power which was felt by 
the large audience. 

But the effect upon one preacher, as a whole, was 
depressing. It caused him to feel that he could not 
preach. "I can't preach," was the impression made 
upon his mind. 

With 'that feeling he went to his field of labor. 
Experience is not -an easy school master, but his les- 
sons make a deep impression. The year passed with 
its varied experiences of success and failure, joy and 
sorrow, and the minister was again at the annual 
gathering of the preachers. 

The ecclesiastic who presided at this conference 
also preached a masterful sermon. Not all bishops 
that the minister had heard, were superior pulpit or- 



A Message for You. 223 

ators. Some of them come to their high office be- 
cause of other qualities that have impressed the 
church with their gifts. 

As he sat under the spell of eloquence he felt as 
upon the same occasion a year before, a sense of de- 
pression, attended with the feeling "I can't preach. '^ 

CAN^T PREACH. 

He listened to the disheartening voice with the 
experience of the past year before him. He had 
learned his lesson and replied to the Satan of dis- 
couragement, ''No, I can't preach. I know that, 
well. That is, I can't preach on the same day, or 
from the same pulpit with the bishop. Oh, no, I 
know that very well. ' ' 

"But, Satan, there is another side to the question. 
The bishop cannot fill my place any more than I can 
fill his position." 

TOUR OWN PLACE. 

''I shall go to a small town. No bishop has 
been there, or, in all probability, will ever be there. 
He cannot be gotten there. He will be too busy, or 
for other reasons, cannot go. But I can, and will. 

SING AND SHINE. 

For years after, this humble worker went to his 
appointments singing : 
*' There's surely somewhere a lowly place. 

In earth's harvest field so wide — 
Where I may labor through life's short day 

For Jesus, the crucified. 
So trusting my all to thy tender care, 



'224: A Message for You. 

And knowing thou lovest me, 
I'll do thy will with a heart sincere, 

I'll 'be what yon want me to be." 

The Christian worker will need to remember that 
his work is one of faith, and for Ood, and cannot fail. 

The promises of God give assurance. So that ev- 
ery Christian worker can say, "This is God's work. 
It is done in His name and it will succeed. His 
promise is, "My word shall not return unto me void, 
but it shall accomplish that which I please and pros- 
per in the thing whereunto I send it." 

Faith sings: 

It may not be my way. 
It may not be thy way. 
But yet in his own way 
The Lord will provide. ' ' 

The preacher, living, and preaching the truth may 
hav€ a long, hard fight, and see no results, but he 
is succeeding. Every effort counts. Speaking in 
the name of Jesus his message is owned of God. It 
cannot fail. 

NATURALLY GLOOMY. 

There are natures with tendencies to gloom, as 
ethers incline to over-hopefulness. I mean that there 
lare dispositions that fill the air wd>th castles Which 
€an never have a substantial foundation 'on the earth. 
Some as naturally live in the 'cellar as others build 
air castles. 

There is no credit or discredit in the possession of 
either inheritance. But having one or the other tern- 



A Message for You. 225 

perament it is for us to learn the rig-lit use of our- 
selves. 

Bishop Ninde, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
said that he naturally inclined to melancholy. But 
in his youth he formed a resolution to take a cheerful 
view of life. 

Who can tell what inward battles the good bishop 
may have fought against himself during a long and 
eminently useful life? He so far succeeded in con- 
quering his natural tendency that he was recognized 
as a model bishop and a superior saint. 

*'^IS GOD DEAD ?" 

Luther says: "At one time I was sorely vexed 
and tried by my own sinfulness, by the wickedness 
of the world, and by dangers that beset the church. 
One morning I saw my wife dressed in mourning. 
I asked her why, w^ho had died?" ''Do you not 
know," she replied, ''God in heaven is dead?" 
"How can you talk such nonsense, Katie?" I said. 
"How can God die. He is immortal and will live 
through all eternity." "Is that really true?" she 
asked. "Of course," I said, still not perceiving 
what she was aiming at. "How can you doubt it? 
As sure as there is a God in heaven, so sure is it that 
he can never die." "And yet," she said, "though 
you do not doubt that, yet you are so hopeless and 
discouraged." And then I observed what a wise 
woman my wife was to master my sadness. ' ' 

We may use adverse moods as a boy uses opposing 
winds to fly his kite. And often the stronger the 



226 A Message for You. 

wind the higher the kite will rise, if the string is 
long and strong. 

I haye known natures inclined to anxious thought 
and care to become hy cultivating right views and 
habits, uniformly cheerful, kind and considerate. 
Especially if 'they had the 'Christian's fadth their 
sympathy was helpful. They were steady and reli- 
able characters. 

THE SUNNY SIDE. 

There are two ways 'of looking at things, and at 
least two sides to every situation. We may look up- 
on the bright side of life and be hopeful, or upon the 
dark side and lose heart. 

The apostle said: "Whatsoever things are pure, 
whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are 
lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there 
he any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on 
these things." Beautiful thoughts, no'ble thoughts, 
true thoughts, yield a beautiful life, a noble life, a 
true life. 

"Two men being convalescent were asked how 
they were. One said, "I am better today." The 
other said, "I was worse yesterday." 

"When it rains one man says, "This will 'make 
mud.' Another, 'This will lay the dust.' " 

"Two boys were examining a bush. One observ- 
ed that it had a thorn ; the other that it had a rose. 

"Two children looking through a colored glass. 
One said, 'The world is blue.' The other said, 'It 
is hrighl.' 



A Message for You. 227 

**Two boys 'having a bee — one got honey — the 
other got stung. The first one called it a honey bee 
— the other a stinging be^. 

** *I am glad I live/ says one. 'I am sorry I can- 
not die, * says another. 

" *1 am glad/ says one, 'that it is no worse/ 'I 
am sorry,' says another, 'that it is no better.' 

''One says, 'Our good is mixed with evil.' Anoth- 
er says, 'Our evil is mixed with good.' " 

A DISCOURAGED MAN. 

Mr. Moody used to say that, "God cannot us3 % 
discouraged man." Perhaps Grod cannot use a dis- 
couraged man to the best advantage. Of course, if 
he is utterly discouraged he can do nothing. He 
will lack faith. Discouragement is the essence of 
unbelief. Where there is faith there is courage. 
Little faith -means little courage. Great faith marks 
great courage. The absence of faith is marked by 
the presence of fear and dismay. 

BE FAITHFUL. 

It will encourage us to remember that it is for us 
to be faithful ; God gives results. It is for us to la- 
bor. God will give success. "We are never told to 
be successful, but everywhere to be faithful. Paul 
may plant and Apollos water but God gives the in- 
crease. "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will 
give thee a crown of life." "He that goeth forth 
and weepeth, bearing precious seed shall doubtless 
come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with 
him." 



228 A Message for You. 

OHAPTER XXXY. 
A THiOEJ^ m THiE ELBSiH. 

Contented now, upon my thigh, 
I halt, till life's short journey end; 
All helplessness, all weakness, I 
On thee alone for strength depend: 
Nor have I power from thee to move, 
Thy nature and thy name is Love." 

— Charles Wesley in Wrestling Jacob. 

Paul had a revelation. He was caught up into 
paradise and heard unspeakable words. The ex- 
altation was great. The s-ense of glory and of God 
was 'beyond average human experience. The desire 
to glory also was present with him, but he restrained 
himself lest men should think unduly of him. 

The apostle then adds : ''And lest I should be ex- 
alted above measure through the abundance of the 
revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the 
flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I 
should be exalted above measure." 

"For this thing I besoug'ht the Lord thrice, that it 
might depart from me." 

"And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for 
thee ; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. ' ' 
2 Cor. 12:1-9. 

But he felt the presence of the thorn. It pierced 
him. It was afflictive and he naturally sought re- 
lief. But no relief was granted. Desirous of help, 
he persisted in prayer. He prayed not once, nor 



A Message for You. 229 

twice, but thrice. God answered his pra^^er, not as 
he would but as infinite wisdom saw best; *'My 
grace ds sufficient for thee. ' ' And ' ' My strength is 
made perfect in weakness" were the responses of 
Divine Love. But the difficulty was not removed. 

ANSWERED THOUGH NOT PLEASED. 

This was truly an answer to Paul though God had 
not complied with his request. A man may answer 
his fellow man, but not always in a way to please 
him. So God answers prayer, often in a way to dis- 
appoint the petitioner. 

When President Garfield was shot by an assassin, 
the people earnestly prayed for his recovery. But 
he died and the nation mourned. 

YES OR NO. 

Two little girls were discussing the situation. One 
said, ''There, I told you, God does not answer pray- 
er." The other said, "Yes, he does." "How can 
that he, said the first, Mr. Garfield died, while the 
people prayed that he might live." "Well, said the 
second girl, "God always answers prayer, but not 
always as we wish. Sometimes he answers yes, and 
sometimes no." 

SORE EYES. 

What this thorn was that troubled Paul, we do 
not know. Some Bdble teachers have thought it to 
be one thing and some another. The commonly ac- 
cepted idea is, that it was weakness of eyes. One 
writer identifies Paul's maladv with the nervous 



230 A Message for You. 

prostration, attendant on malarial fever. But it was 
an affliction, a grief, a burden to be borne. This, 
with his little stature would give hdm an insignifi- 
cant, if not a repulsive appearance. 

If he might be tempted on account of great men- 
tal strength and powers as a theologian and orator 
to glory, he would be kept humble by his visual 
weakness or his affliction of whatever nature it was. 

EVERY CHRISTIAN HAS HIS THORN. 

God's devoted children often have some weakness, 
impediment, or misfortune in their persons, lives or 
■circumstances that embarrass them. These wran- 
igle as *'a thorn in the flesh," and when they are 
tempted to pride because of any superiority to 
their fellows, they have 'only to look at their mis- 
fortune or infirmity to be humbled. 

It may be an infirmity of speech. Moses, the great 
lawgiver, was slow of speech and hesitated to go to 
Pharaoh on that account. God is chary of his gifts 
and does not bestow them all upon one man. His 
brother Aaron was his mouthpiece. 

HE LISPED. 

An excellent preacher who is a'bove the average 
in thinking powers, lisps so that his congregation is 
humiliated on account of their pastor's infirmity. It 
is his thorn in the flesh, and their 's, too. 

DEAFNESS. 

Another preacher and editor, necessarily before 
the public, suffered from deafness so that he could 



A Message for You. 231 

not hear, nor could he converse readily with the peo- 
ple. When he saw that something bright had been 
littered, a friend at his side would speak in his ear, 
or write the choice saying. It was an infirmity of 
the flesh. 'He said, ' ' If 'the Lord wants me to work 
at the altar he will have to restore my hearing. ' ' 

SELLING BOOKS. 

A man whose health failed in middle life, thrown 
out of his life's calling, entered upon that ready 
means of support, selling books. 

Speaking of the trials attending his work, his 
friend said: ''It is not every one who can write a 
book. You enter many homes with words of cheer 
and prayer. You distribute thousands of tracts. 
You preach a great deal. You may be doing more 
good in this more general ministry than you did in 
your regular work." 

He replied: "The Lord seems to have opened a 
door to do neglected and needed work. For years 
the door had been elosed to me. Now it is wide open 
and every other door is closed. 

"But the work seems little and uninviting. I am 
thankful for the opportunity to be useful. This way 
■of working may be my thorn in the flesh. God may 
Tdc answering my prayer, keeping me humble and 
m'aiking me a greater blessing than I might be had I 
my own way." 

WORLDLY SOCIETY THORN. 

niches may be the thorn in the flesh of others. In 



^32 A Message for You. 

the popular mind wealth is desirable. The multi- 
tudes risli the possession of wealth, letting everj- 
thing and everybody adjust themselves to it. 

A 'Christian had renounced the world and receiyed 
Christ in entire sanctification. Her purpose was to 
do the whole will of God. The sweetness of a life 
of full consecration so possessed her that it was her 
meat and drink to do the will of Ood. 

DEJESS^ JEWELRY, POMP, MAY BE AN" EKEMY. 

She said, ''We live in a fine home. My husband 
and his people love me and are willing to do any- 
thing for me. They move in "the best society.'* 
They dress elegantly, and expend much on style. 
They desire me to cultivate worldly society. I have 
no heart for these things. I cannot wear jewelry. 
Pinery, style and worldly society with their train 
of glitter and show have no attraction for me. I am 
dead to the world. I have renounced the vanities 
and follies of a life of pleasure." 

''I would rather be the least of these 

Who are the Lord's alone, 
Than -wear a royal diadem 

And sit upon a throne." 

THE WORLD WILL HATE YOU. 

Who will say that this Christian woman's lot in 
life has not the element of the eross in it? What 
would be received by many 'as an enviable position 
was in its worldly affinities a menace to her spiritu- 
ality and peace. 



A Message for You. 233 

The Scriptures were fulfilled in 'her life, **A man's 
foes shall be those of his own household." All that 
the world •calls good and great stood as an enemy to 
tempt her to give up Christ for the world. Wealth 
with beckoning hands, invited her to forsake the way 
of self-denial for the path of ease and pleasure. 

RicOies were her ''thorn in the flesh, the messenger 
of Satan to buffet her." But she was not sad. Her 
face beamed with joy, and her life thrilled with holy 
purpose. She could sing : 

' ' My father is rich in houses and lands, 
He holdeth the wealth of the world in his hands ; 
Of riches and rubies, of diamonds and gold, 
His coffers are full; He has riches untold." 

SATAN THE DECEIVER. 

'Satan would use our thorn to injure, aggravate 
and fret us, and thus hurt us and spoil our influence. 
He would discourage us so that we would do nothing 
for Christ and his church. He would sour us be- 
cause of our difficulties. 

But Christ designs our thorn to be a blessing. It 
is to be a goad to press us on. It may be a blessing, 
in disguise, !but a blessing. 

KNEE DRILL. 

It depends on us whether our affliction shall cause 
us to worry, complain and lose heart, or shall cause 
us to take deeper root in God. 

Our infirmities may drive us to our knees and 
thus our strength be made perfect in weakness, or 



^34 A Message for You. 

cause us to look at our difficulties, like Peter, wlio be- 
iield the waves aud began to sink in despair. 

THE WEAK AND LAME. 

Muc'li good has 'been accomplished by those with 
broken lives. How often the lame have taken the 
prey. Over and over again the wilderness has been 
made by them to blossom as the rose. 

We are to lay our weakness on Christ. He knows 
our limitations and hindrances. He is acquainted 
with all our way. He knows all about our weakness 
:and our trials. Our infirmities and environments, as 
well as our sins, are to be laid upon the heart of the 
burden bearer. He says, ''Oast thy burden upon the 
liord, and he shall sustain thee. ' ' 

The thorn may not be taken away, but he will en- 
able us to bear it. Grace according to our day is his 
gracious promise. 

A BETTER ANSWER. 

The secret of strength is not to murmur or rebel at 
difficulties whether in ourselves or our lot in life, but 
to take all to Christ and receive his strength. 

Paul learned this lesson. It was hard and disa- 
greeable. The thorn hurt. He groaned for deliv- 
erance. But infinite wisdom did not see fit 'to re- 
move it. Ood gave him a better answer to his pray- 
er, though it was a disappointment to the flesh. 

GLORY IN YOUR THORN. 

The Apostle got beyond the initial experience of 
ibearing his grief. He embraced his cross and en- 



A Message for You, 235 

tered into the mind of Christ. We hear him exclaim : 
**Most g'ladly therefore will I rather ^lory in my in- 
firmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 
Therefore, I take pleasure in infirities, in reproach- 
es, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for 
Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I 
strong." 2 Cor. 12:9, 10. 

Think of it ! Glorying in infirmities, taking pleas- 
ure in reproaches and necessities and persecutions 
and distresses for Christ's sake. 

VICTORY IN" DEFEAT. 

This is victory. It is triumph beyond the mere 
absence of pain and sorrow and loss. In the pres- 
ence of affliction and grief, the keeping power of 
Christ triumphed. 

In the midst of human weakness the divine 
strength was revealed. Infinite power was set over 
against human weakness. No wonder he could glory 
because in infirmities the power of Christ rested upon 
him. 

The Lord grant that thy servants may so accept the 
infirmaties, necessities and afflictions of their lives 
that they may not frustrate the igrace of Ood in or 
througih them by any complaint 'or rebellion. May 
they so enter into thy 'blessed will concerning their 
lives that thy power may continually rest upon them. 



236 A Message for You. 



OHAFTHR XXXVI. 

^"WIHIAT IS THiE MlATTElR WITH THE 
CHURCH? 

"They have healed also the hunt of the daughter of my 
people slightly, saying, peace, peace, when there is no 
peace." — Bible. 

An undertone of discontent with the condition of 
the church, is heard in convention and in the secular 
press. The pulpit itself and the religious press are 
awake to the situation. 

'Many shrewd minds, while they love the church 
and appreciate its power in society, recognize a lack. 
Others from without level their guns and would de- 
stroy Cod's house. They substitute for it the lodge, 
the lecture platform, the public library and all sorts 
of humanitarian institutions. 

They say,, ''Cive us something that is useful. The 
church has outlived its day. The race has progress- 
ed beyond the infantile period and no longer needs 
the fostering care of this spiritual mother. We 
want something practical in this utilitarian age. The 
church is no 'better than the world, and is doing no 
good. ' ' 

On this general subject I have gathered from a 
leading magazine the observations of some ohurchly 
minds of widely divergent theological views : 



A Message for You. 237 

LACK OF AUTHORITY. 

Cardinal Gibbons (Catholic) : 

''Many of our countrymeii do not regard churcli- 
going as a binding obligation in any sense. 'The 
remedy' will be found in giving the people in the 
churches something of God, some spiritual gift, some 
good which it would be impossible for them to get 
elsewhere. ' ' 

Dr. C. H. Parkhurst (Presbyterian) : 

"The church is not perfect, and there is no insti- 
tution with ■w'hich I am acquainted that is.*' He de- 
nies that the church is in a condition of spiritual de- 
crepitude or of moral degeneration, but he recognizes 
that the church is not the distinct and aggressive 
feature of general life that it ought to be. 

Emil G. Hirsch (Hebrew) : 

Thinks that the condition of the church in our da^ 
is such as we may expect to find in an age of transi- 
tion. The natural sciences and the studies in the 
history and authenticity of the sacred books, known 
under the name of the Higher Criticism, have under- 
mined belief in the infallibility of the Scriptures 
■and spread serious doubts concerning doctrines fun- 
damental in the teachings of orthodoxy. 

He further adds : ' ' The truth is, the function 
which the pulpit might fill in these days is largely 
pre-empted ^)j the sociologist, the social engineer. 
Settlements and similar institutions devoted to the 



238 A Message for You. 

betterment of social conditions and the bridging of 
tbe chasm between the masses and the classes have 
usurped the place esrtwhile held by the church.'' 

LAGGING BEHIND. 

Josiah Strang, D. D., says that the church is not 
keeping pace with the growth of the population. 
"Since 1900 the growth of church membership has 
been less than two-thirds as rapid as that of the pop- 
ulation, and this notwithstanding the exceptional 
evangelistic effort. The rate of gain has been fall- 
ing since 1850, and in 1900 it had practically 
reached the vanishing point.'' 

Frances E. Willard, speaking of the many outside 
organizations doing the social work the church had 
neglected, remarked to me : ' ' They lare all living 
monuments of a dead church. " " No, ' ' I replied, ' ' she 
is not dead, but sleepeth. ' ' 

Len G. Broughton (Baptist), recognizes that the 
church is doing far more for the elevation of human- 
ity than is supposed. He sees a lack of faith, and 
ignorance of the Bible. 

DOUBLE THE PREACHER'S SALARIES. 

Charles F. Aked (Baptist), thinks that the salaries 
of the preachers should be doubled, that the men in 
the pulpit are not big enough for the tasks before 
them. 

TOO TAME. 

Russell H. €onwell(Baptist), sees the church closed 
while Y. M. C. A. 's and hospitals and night schools 



A Message for You. 239 

are at work meeting the needs of people. Monotony 
and tameness are not thealtiiy conditions for any- 
tliinig 'but a clam. Persecution would be a blessing 
to the churc'li. 

THE COMMON PEOPLE. 

Gypsy Smith (evangelist), says the churches are 
neither ''hot nor cold.'* Christ is on the outside 
knocking to get into the church. We have lost the 
spirit and power which makes a New Testament 
church. We are too much of a mutual "congratula- 
tion society." We have lost touch with the com- 
mon people. We are not in earnest to seek and to 
save the lost. 

Senator Beverage, of Indiana, in an address before 
a body of preachers, laccounting for the people turn- 
ing from the churches, laid the blame upon the 
preachers themselves. 

THEY SHOULD NOT BE IN THE MINISTRY. 

'He said that he met three cultured young minis- 
ters in Colorado who would compare favorably with 
the bright men of the church in the nation, to whom 
he proposed three questions to which 'he asked pos- 
itive answers, yes or no, as follows : 

1. Do you believe in Ood? Yes or no. The Urst 
hesitated ; the second began to expilain ; and the third 
could not speak positively. The Senator said, '^We 
will pass." 

2. Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of 
God sent into the world to save sinners ? They again 
asked to explain their position. And the Senator 



240 A Message for You. 

said. ** Gentlemen, we will pass to the third (^ues- 
tion." 

3. Do you believe in the immortality of the soul? 
The three gifted young ministers were a^ much at 
sea as before. "Now gentlemen," said the Senator, 
''if there is a falling off in attendance upon church, 
and there is, and if there is a disregard for religion, 
the ministers themselves are largely to blame. ' ' 

'The people expect ministers to believe something, 
to have convictions and to speak with certainty. 

Jesus did not argue. He announced the truth. 
The ministry does not speak with authority because 
of a lack of conviction. They do not know. Doubt 
is the mother of uncertainty. 

These searching words are too true. The pulpit is 
honey-comlbed with men who question the fundamen- 
tals of our ho'ly Christianity. 

NO CHURCH DISCIPLIN-E. 

Bishop Foster, of the M. E, Church, could not just- 
ly be accused of pessimism, and his words as to the 
condition of his own chourch are true of every other 
communion. He says, ''How true that the Metho- 
dist Discipline is a dead letter. Its rules — ^no one 
ever thinks of disciplining its members for violating 
them. They forbid the taking of such diversions as 
do not minister to godliness ; yet the church Itself 
goes into shows and frolics and festivals and fairs, 
which destroy the spiritual life of the young as well 
as of the old. The extent to which this is now car- 
ried on is appalling. The spiritual death it carries 



A Message for You. 241 

in its train will only be known when the millions it 
'has swept into hell stand 'before the judgment. Is 
not 'worldliness seen in the mnsic? Ohoirs, often 
sneering skeptics, go through a cold, artistic, or op- 
eratic performance, which is as much in harmony 
wdth spiritual worship as an opera or theater. The 
number is comparatively small w'ho honestly desire 
and earnestly endeavor after full consecration, all 
the mind that was in Christ." (From ''Holiness 
and Power," page 25.) 

What would we think of a physician who should 
diagnose the patient's disease, and then leave him 
without a remedy? The diagnosis might be perfect, 
but if the patient died for want of a remedy -what 
good would the diagnosis do? A remedy is at hand. 
Let successful leaders of church activities and soul 
winners speak. 

UXFAITIirUL PEEACTIERS. 

The Christian Witness: ''The masses of church 
members have no more symptoms of having been 
born again than the dead world about them. This 
condition has largely been brought about by a fail- 
ure to preach the Gospel. Repentance, the Witness 
of the Spirit, Entire Sanctification, the Judgment 
and Eternal Punishment are rare subjects of pulpit 
discourse. The pulpit generally has listened to the 
demands of the people instead of the voice of God. 
The preaching of scriptural repentance will as truly 
bring spiritual life as the last trump will bring the 
resurrection." 



t4r.2 A Message for Tou. 

BACK TO PENTECOST. 

** Truly, something is needed besides clmrcli organ- 
ization and mac'liinery and culture and pulpit orato- 
ry. These unspeakably sad facts above cited ought 
to call the church to its knees in humble supplica- 
tion for the mercy of God and the outpouring bap- 
tism with the Holy Ohost. The only escape from 
our spiritual impotency, the only way out of the 
difficulties and threatening perils of Zion for believ- 
ers in general, and for these ministers and theologi- 
cal professors and the leaders of Israel in particular, 
is a journey 'back to Pentecost." — A. M. Hills, in 
"Holiness and Power." 

Joseph Cook solves the question in a few words : 
"The great need of the world is the Christianizing 
of Christanity. " 

OLD ti:me power. 

D. L. Moody, who was well acquainted with the 
spiritual condition of the churches of America, said : 

"A great many people are thinking that we need 
new measures, that we need new churches, that we 
need new organs, new choirs, and all these new 
things. That is not what the church of God needs 
today. It is the old power that the apostles had; 
that is what we want, and if we have that in our 
churches, there will be new life. Then we will have 
new ministers — the same old ministers renewed with 
power, filled with the Spirit. Oh, that God might 
anoint his people ! Not the ministry only, but ev- 
ery day disciples." 



A Message for You. 243^ 

NEED THE SPIRIT OF GOD. 

Spurgeon said: "If we have not the spirit of 
God, it were better to shut the ch-arches, to nail up 
the doors, to put a bla<ik cross on them, and say, 
^"Grod have mercy on us!' If you ministers have not 
the Spirit of God you would better not preach, and 
you people would better stay at home. I think I 
speak not too strong<ly when I say that a church 
without the Spirit of God is rather a curse than a 
blessing. '^ 

THE HOLY ANOINTING. 

Rev. S. A. Keen, a holiness evangelist of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, said: ''How presumptuous- 
for us to attempt our mission without the anointing, 
when Jesus did not venture to enter upon his with- 
out the aid of the Spirit ! How careful he was to 
guard his first disciples against venturing to their 
mission — even after their commission was given, and 
the gospel message for the mouth of its heralds — 
without the anointing of the Holy Ghost. He said : 
''Tarry till ye be endued with power from on high." 
Yet how many ministers, missionaries, evangelists, 
and workers have gone to their mission without this 
power to achieve it! The great blunder of the 
church today is, that so many are attempting to do 
God's work, and to save souls, without the power of 
the Holy Ghost." 

FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. 

President Asa Mahan, the first president of Oberlin 
College, after speaking of his own failure in the 



244 A Message for You. 

Christian life, and that of believers in general, with- 
out the baptism of the Holy Ghost, isaid: "For this 
state I found, as multitudes are finding, but one rem- 
edy. We must wait in prayer '»the promise of the 
Father,' until we are 'filled with the Holy Ghost.' " 
President Finney, of Oberlin 'College, the mighty 
evangelist, deploring the state of the ministry and 
the church, wrote : "The fact is, there is something 
sadly defective in the education of the ministry and 
of the 'church. The ministry is weak because the 
church is weak. And then, again, the church is 
kept weak by the weakness of the ministry. Oh, for 
a conviction of the necessity of this enduement of 
power and faith in the promise of Christ." 

THE WAY OF HOLIN'ESS. 

The body of the church seems to need regenera- 
tion. Let repentance and faith in Christ as a per- 
sonal Savior be preached. The baptism with the 
Holy Ghost is imperative if ministers and members 
•are to be saved from disgraceful barrenness and 
made fruitful in winning men to Christ and 
building up the kingdom. Preach the "sanctification 
without which no m'an shall see the Lord." 

If we have been converted or sanctified the church 
has been our mother. She has nourished us. She 
has been a guide to our youth and a protection to our 
age. Let us love and cherish her with all of her 
faults. She is not dead as her enemies and unwise 
friends assert, but sleepeth. She will yet awake and 
bless the earth. Let every chiM of God sing : 



A Message for You. 245 

**I love thy Kingdom, Lord, 
The house of thine abode, 
The church our blest Redeemer saved, 
• With his own precious blood. 

"For her my tears shall fall. 

For her my prayers ascend; 
To her my cares and toils be given, 

Till toils and cares shall end." 

"Sure as thy truth shall last. 
To Zion shall be given. 
The brightest glories earth can yield, 
And brightest bliss of heaven." 



24:6 A Message for You. 

CHiAJPTiEK XXXVII. 
TiHiEl CHTQEiCIH BiQiSIS. 

"Therefore, brethren look ye out among you seven 
men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wis- 
dom, whom we may appoint over this business. — (Bible 
'^qualification of Official Members). 

**Is Mr. Blank in?" inquired little Miss Innocence, 
of one member of a 'business firm. ^'W'liicli one do 
you wish to see?" was asked. ''Tlie one tliat owns 
tlie churcli, ' ' she replied. 

A hearty laugh ensued at the expense of this mem- 
her of the firm who is an active and efficient church 
worker. 

But the mistake indicates a tendency and condi- 
tion which is a menace in church life. There is a 
disposition to foster not one Pope on the Tiber, but 
as many Popes as there are churches in the land. We 
object to one great hig Pope who claims infallibility, 
and whose word must regulate our creeds and prac- 
tice. But if there must he a Pope we would like to 
he the igentleman ourselves. There seems to be some- 
thing very human in the disposition to clothe oneself 
with authority and then abuse the power invested in 
us. 

See a few illustrations : 

A prominent man said to his pastor, as he entered 
the church, ''The country people go to bed out here 
at 8 o'clock, and it's about time to begin -the ser- 



A Message for You. 247 



vice." ''Is it?" said the pastor. "Yes," said the 
leader, in a confident tone and manner. "All rig'ht," 
replied the pastor, and walking into the pulpit an- 
nounced the opening hymn. 

"Yes," said a neighbor, "Mr. Stubbornness is in- 
clined to run things. He likes to have ihis own way." 

"I got my foot on the neck of Rev, Faithful when 
he first came here, and intend to keep it there," were 
the words of Mr. Self Will. It was said that the 
leading official did not hesitate to treat his pastor 
ungraciously as occasion offered. He wanted him 
moved, and would be satisfied with nothing else. 

One of the conditions that developed Mr. Self 
Wills' animosity was a local option election. The 
question of the removal of the saloons from the coun- 
ty was up for solution. 

THE CHURCH POLITICIAN". 

The Rev. Faithful said the saloons ruin the young 
men. Families are demoralized by them. Grog shops 
are the enemy of the church. And the people shoulti 
have a chance to vote them out. 

Mr. Self Will and other members of the official 
board, said that the time was not propitious. They 
pleaded for an extension of time, but would not con- 
sider the question of an election at any particular 
time in the future. However, the issue was joined, 
an election was ordered and the people said — No Sa- 
loons. 

HIS WAY RIGHT OR WRONG. 

This did not please Mr. Self Will. He was angry 



248 A Message for You. 

at being defeated. He TDlamed tlie Rev. Faithful, 
very justly, for forcing the issue upon the people. 
"What, at last were the people's interests, or the real 
cause of religion to him ? He wanted his way, right 
or wrong. He wanted Rev. Faithful removed, and 
he pitted himself against him with all the influence 
that he could summon, and the pastorate of a faith- 
ful minister came to a speedy end. 

IS THE PREACHER MUZZLED. 

A writer in The Western Ohristian Advocate on, 
**Do Rich Church Members Muzzle The Preacher?" 
has this to say: 

'^'Let the preacher in any of our great city 'Church- 
es — myself included — ^^whose igreat majority of mem- 
bers are more often at the theater than at the prayer- 
meeting ; wihose leading women spend far more hours 
at the bridge table than they do in distinctive Chris- 
tian work ; whose influential men spend tens of dol- 
lars 'on clubs and social excesses to every dollar they 
spend on the cause of Christ; whose leading repre- 
sentatives do not always decline the social wine at 
important functions ; let any of us in the most gentle 
and circumspect manner possible, either privately or 
publicly, speak in condemnation of these things, and 
see how the muzzle is trotted out. ' ' 

THE BELL SHEEP. 

Put a herd of cattle together, and every pair of 
horns must measure strength. Every flock has its 
'bell sheep. Every flight of birds its leader. 



A Message for You. 249 

Two (hired men working in a field at the same wa- 
ges and on a level, one will naturally defer to the 
other' w^ho will, by consent of hoth, be the leader or 
"boss." 

There is no society without its leader. He may not 
be chosen president, but he is the ruling spirit. His 
hand may not be seen, but he is ''the power behind 
the throne," and must always be reckoned with by 
ostensible leaders. 

I can easily see 'how one who invests money and 
energy in the church will manifest his pleasure or 
displeasure in the conduct of affairs. He may groAV 
by degrees to a place where he must be eonsulted in 
■all its work. Who has not seen men of this stamp 
grow little by little to the position of tyrant of a 
dangerous type? 

Sometimes this eharacter is a man and often a 
woman. He may be the preacher. The sexton may 
take upon ^himself to manage the preacher, the offi- 
cial board and the congregation. Sometimes the 
church boss is not even a member of the church, 'but 
dictates to the preacher the general policy of the 
church. 

HOW GET RID OF THE BOSS. 

Do you a^k how we may do away with the church 
boss ? I answer, he cannot -be fully obliterated. Let 
the church be conducted on Christian, democratic 
principles. But remember that the boss has ever 
been and will continue in some form while the church 
■and human nature remain as they are. 



250 A Message for You. 

Whether the leader is a good or an evil depends 
upon the man. If he is truly regenerated, a good, 
wise, strong man doing all for the glory of God and 
the good of the church, help and encourage him, hut 
carefully guard him, for he is only a man, and power 
is a dangerous weapon in any man's hands. 

There is a crying need for leadership in the church. 
We need it in the pulpit. We need it in the pew. It 
is needed in the spiritual, financial and social depart- 
ments. The multitudes will follow if we have lead- 
ers of the true quality. But it should be holy lead- 
ership. Men and women sanctified to the Master's 
use who say ''not self but iChrist." 

But when a man comes to the front on account of 
his strength, position or money and says by word or 
action, *'I will lead. I will have my way. It mat* 
ters not who oppose or what the will of the majority. 
It imatters not what is right. I will rule or ruin. I 
have the money and the influence and will have my 
'way," then leadership has degenerated to mere boss- 
ism. A blessing has become a curse and the subject 
of it is properly despised. 

We need Spirit-filled leaders to fill all the offices of 
the church from bishop to the humblest member. But 
there is no place for the unsavory boss unless it be 
at the altar as an humble seeker for the pardon of 
his sins. 



A Message for You. 261 

CHAiPTElR XXXVIII. 
THE ¥E\AJR OIF ^MIAjIST. 

"Be bold, be bold, be bold, 
And everywhere be bold." 

— Longfellow, to young men. 

"Here lies a mian who never feared the face of man." 
— (Said by an Englishman standing at the grave of John 
Knox). 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, 
but **the fear of man bringeth a snare." The latter 
is a perversion of the noble principle of awe and holy 
reverence, and has played an important part in the 
life of the race. 

When our first parents sinned they immediately 
sewed fig leaves together to hide themselves from 
Ood. 

After Cain had murdered his brother, he feared 
that everyone who saw him would be kill him. Mur- 
derers since his day have been subjects of this ma- 
lign passion. 

Abraham pretended that his wife Sarah was his 
sister, because he distrusted a heathen king. 

JACOB THE SUPPLANTEK. 

Jacob cheated Esau and ran into exile. Twenty 
years afterward he desired to return to his native 
land, but the dread of Esau haunted him. The mem- 
orable struggle with the angel at Peniel gained him a 
victory in which he was willing to part with all of 



'^52 -^ ^Icssage for Toil 

his possessions to avert the wrath of his offended 
brother. 

Aaron conciliated the rebellious Israelites by mak- 
ing them a golden ■calf. The compromise measure 
spoke of heart failure. 

Tlie chief priests hated Christ but fear of the peo- 
ple restrained them. 

Compromising Pilate, fluctuating between fear of 
Herod and the people, delivered Jesus, whom he 
knew to be innocent, to be crucified. 

FEAR ENFEEBLES THE SOUL. 

This trait of character holds the soul in 'bondage. 
At religious meetings the testimonies reflect the tim- 
idity of the people. Many can not pra^- or speak in 
public. They can not "give or do what their hearts 
dictate because they fear one another. 

One man could not pray or read the Bible in the 
presence of his children ; but sent them into another 
room, while he took up his cross, and read the Script- 
ures to his wife. Brave Coward! But perhaps he 
was learning. 

A husband said that his voice sounded to him like 
thunder when he talked on religion, though he was 
free to speak on other subjects. 

The wife of an unconverted husband contended for 
fifteen years, that she could not conduct family wor- 
ship. She believed it was the husband's duty ro 
lead his family in religious worship. At last, imder 
stress of an awful fear of hell, she said ves to God. 



A Message for You. 253 

Her unfaitliful husband, as meek as a lamb, hears her 
daily praj^ers. 

FEAR WEAKENS THE SOUL. 

A gentleman who was growing old and feeble felt 
that he ought to give his heart to God and unite with 
the church; but he desired that his intention should 
^be kept a secret. He confided in a blind neighbor, 
's\'<ho arranged that the meeting, which was in pro'g- 
ress at 'the church, should be changed to his home. 
There he would confess Christ. The secretive heart, 
that had been closed for years, gradually opened. 
When he fully committed himself to Christ his fears 
fled, and he gladly published to the world his atti- 
ttude, and his new found joy. 

Fear weakens the soul. Under its influence men 
do nothing who otherwise would he valiant soldiers 
for God. 

HIDING niS TALENT. 

The servant in the parable, who was entrusted 
wuth one talent, wrapped it in a napkin and hid it in 
the earth. He did nothing with his gift ; but treated 
his talent as a burden. When called to account he 
complained against his master saying: ''I knew 
thee that thou art an hard man reaping where thou 
hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not 
strewed. And I was afraid and went and hid thy 
talent in the earth. Ix), there thou hast that is 
thine." 

"The Lord answered and said unto him, thou wick- 
ed and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap 



254 A Message for You. 

where I sowed not, and g^ather wlhere I ihave not 
:&trewed, thou ou-ghtest, therefore, to have put my 
money to the exchangers and then at my coming I 
should have received mine own with usury. Take 
therefore the talent from him and 'give it unto him, 
which hath ten talents. For unto every one that 
hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance ; but 
from him that hath not shall be taken away even 
that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable 
servant into outer darkness ; there shall be weeping 
and gnashing of teeth." 

Many since his day have hidden from Grod and 
man, who should have invested their talent. They 
might have grown great. At least they would have 
''cut their bigness'' through the world, and been a 
blessing according to their ability. 

A WEAK MAN" OF TALEA'T. 

A friend of the writer — a man -of intelligence, re- 
cently died in his old age. He was lacking in manly 
independence and force of character. When oppos- 
ed he shrank and ''backed down" froim his position. 
Want of courage caused a man of superior talent to 
take an inferior place among men and die in obscu- 
rity. 

THE LION" IN" THE WAY. 

This spirit sees difficulties and magnifies dangers. 
Lions are in the way and fear says : "I shall be slain 
in the streets." Under its influence he prudentlj' 
avoids labors that involve sacrifice and risk. Petes 
hesitatingly followed his Lord afar off and denied 



A Message for You. 255 

him three times, after having declared, "though all 
men deny thee yet will not I. ' ' 

GIANTS AND GRASSHOPPERS. 

Of the twelve spies sent out to view the land of 
Canaan, ten brought back an evil report. They all 
agreed that the land was good — a land flowing with 
milk and honey. But ten of them said: ''The peo- 
ple be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities 
are walled, and very great. We he not able to go 
against the people ; for they are stronger than we. 
The land through which we have gone to search is 
a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and 
all the people that we saw in it are men of great 
stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of 
Anak, which come of the giants ; and we were in our 
own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their 
sight." Num. 13. 

And thus they brought up an evil report — a slan- 
der upon the land, which they had searched. 

IN THE MINORITY. 

The ten saw the country through coward's eyes 
and their hearts quailed within them. Their spirit 
was communicated to the people, who cried "we 
shall Ibe slain. ' ' 

But two of the number, Caleb and Joshua — the 
memory of whose names is as ointment poured forth 
hy the spirit of eourage, said : ' ' We are abundantly 
able to go up and possess the land. ' ' 

When one shall chase a thousand and two put ten 



256 A Message for You. 

thousand to flight, you may depend upon it that they 
do not take counsel of fear. 

FEAR MAKES OF MAN A SLAVE. 

We see the effect of fearfulness upon men in com- 
mercial life. Business is to be conducted for the 
glory of Ood, not primarily to make money. It is a 
man's instrument of service for 'God and humanity. 

I have carried remonstrances against granting li- 
censes to saloons. Frequently men say: "We be- 
lieve in temperance. You folks are right. There is 
no good in saloons. They are a nuisance from every 
point of view. But we are in business and cannot 
afford to get the saloon down on us. They spend 
money and have influence, you know. But we wish 
you success. Do not think that we are opposed to 
temperance. We have to be prudent, you know — 
we deal with the public. ' ' 

Thus business men hesitate in a plain case of right 
and duty and consent to be governed 'hj low motives 
of prudence. They are children of cowardice. 

THE POLITICIAN'S SMILE. 

The average politician is non-committal and time 
serving. It is difficult to get him to stand squarely 
on his feet and look the world in the face in regard 
to any great moral issue, where there is division of 
public sentiment. He smiles on you and with equal 
grace on the representative of the opposition. In 
•glittering generalities he wishes both success ; but is 
chary about committing himself. Politic Pilate 



Ky 



A Message for You. 257 

washed his hands when he gave Jesus over to be cru- 
cified; but he could not cleanse the guilt from his 
cowardly soul.. 

THE OVER CAREFUL PREACHER. 

This principle makes the preacher conservative. 
He will not give himself to root out sin if practiced 
by influential and wealthy people in church and com- 
munity. 

He says the people will not stand the whole truth 
and so he preaches a mutilated gospel. He modifies 
emphasis and adopts the motto that discretion is the 
Ibetter part of valor. On subjects not pleasant to 
the public ear, he is silent and speaks guardedly. He 
says the acceptable thing which may not be untrue; 
but he is untrue who pleases men rather than God. 

The preacher has an eye to the appointing power 
— those in authority, his official board and the 
wealthy and influential in his congregation. He will 
be careful of radical action that may affect his stand- 
ing. 

A LARGER MAX. 

The difficulty often in the way of the child of God 
obtaining holiness of heart is the spirit of cowardice. 
The death struggle is at the point of his reputation. 
What will men say? What will they do? He will 
be thought peculiar and he cannot afford to be sin- 
gular. He is unwilling to stand alone. He is afraid 
of his business; dreads social ostracism, and stands 
in awe of public opinion. 

If he struggles out on the side of conviction of 



258 A Message for You. 

duty, !he will fee a larger and freer man. If 'he yields 
to fear, he will be less a man and more a slave. 

BE BOLD, BE BOLD. 

Grod desires fearless service. We are to serve him 
without fear in righteousness and holiness all our 



Hear Longfellow's advice to young men: *'Be 
bold, be bold, and again I say be bold. ' ' Dr. Lyman 
Beecher advised a young man to advocate some 
righteous, unpopular cause. Emerson said: ''When 
I fear men, I go among men, ' ' 

The bold attitude affects the inward state and 
tends to produce courage. Face the difficulty. Meet 
the lions. With head up, walk erect, it will help to 
drive away the dark brooding horde of doubt, fear 
and trouble, that springs from weakness. One can 
scarcely be too bold when he is clearly in the right. 
The grind of life will cut him down to about the right 
size. And its heat and cold will temper him, even 
tend to cool his ardor. 

DEAD MEN DO NOT FEAR. 

There is a Christian grace, which makes holy cour- 
age native to the soul. Death to sin frees the soul. 
Paul said: "I am dead, nevertheless I live and yet 
not I ; but 'Christ liveth in me. And the life, which 
I live, I live by the faith of the Son of Ood, who loved 
me and gave himself for me.'* 

Out of this inward crucifixion, Paul fought the 
good fight of faith and ended his life as a martyr to 
the gospel. 



A Message for You. 2oO' 

Men dead to sin have courage. Jolin Wesley said,, 
if lie 'had one hundred men who feared nothing but 
sin, he could take England for Ood. 

Dead men do not fear. They cannot fear. They 
cannot be hurt. We are to be ''dead, indeed, unto 
sin." 

Jesus says : "I will tell you whom you must fear. 
Fear not man, who only can kill the body; but fear' 
God who is able not only to kill the body but to cast 
both soul and body into hell. 

'*P^or God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but., 
of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. ' ' 



260 A Message for You. 

OHiAPTEE XXXIX. 
A PBCTTLIAR PEOiPIiE.. 

The power of a church may not be known by the size 
of its building, or the number, wealth, or culture of its 
members. Mr. Moody said, "Some church members must 
be weighed"; so some churches must be weighed. 

— A Pastor. 
ONE CHUECH. 

Ohurclies, like individuals, 'have their characteris- 
tics. One would know a Methodist church if he 
attended its services with closed eyes. The '^staid 
Presbyterian" and the church of rituals and forms 
have a life which is their own. And there are church- 
es which go to heaven by the water route. But ''one 
small church" has a few characteristics which may 
Tbe portrayed as an example. 

The members, as a rule, have family worship. 
Morning and evening they worship and bow down 
'before God, in whom ''we live and move and have 
our being." It is "the church in the house," and 
mar^ks every home as "a city set upon a hill v^hich 
can not be hid." 

This practice used to prevail. But the family 
altar is passing. And with its waning has come a 
lack of vital godliness in the churches. Where are 
the young men, and why the decrease in their num- 
ber in these later years called into the ministry? Go 
back to the homes and find the atlars of religion 
gone into decay. 



A Message for You. 261 

THE CATECHISM. 

The children are taug'ht the Scriptures and the 
catecTiism. This is done in the home. The parents 
teach the c'hildren. The pastor teaches in the homes. 
And the teacher supplements the work of parent and 
pastor in the Sabbath school. It need scarcely be 
said that the children and youth of this communion 
are well taught in the Bible and the doctrines and 
history of their church. 

THE TITHE. 

The members all pay the tithe into the church. 
This places Ood's house above the need of a worldly 
finance, and relieves her of becoming an impudent 
beggar or a shrewd schemer for the almighty dollar 
with which to turn her machinery. Think of thirty 
or forty families paying the pastor $800, and the 
missionary cause as much or more besides the run- 
ning expenses of the church. The whole is met by 
voluntary offerings. And none of the members are 
wealthy. Nearly all are farmers. 

THE SABBATH DAY. 

The members ''remember the Sabbath 'day to 
keep it holy." This is a corner stone of our relig- 
ion. They realize that the church cannot live with- 
out the Sabbath as a basis for its operation. Ood's 
holy day is fast becoming a holiday. The railroad, 
the newspaper and the saloon have contributed a 
full hand to its overtiirow. Members of more pop- 
ular churches join the Sunday desecration process- 



•262 A Message for You. 

"ion with the multitudes. While the attitude of the 
entire membership of this one church does not stop 
the tide of worldliness that threatens the church 
with destruction it stops their part of it. 

A PHOTOGRAPH. 

A 'thing of interest to pastors is that mem'bers, 
with few exceptions, attend church services, 'as they 
have opportunity. They do not divide their allegi- 
ance with worldly institutions. The pastor arrang- 
ing for church services need not consider with the 
sagacity of a statesman what evenings are already 
engaged. He has a clear track and right of way. 
When the pastor appoints a service he confidently ex- 
pects to meet his people. 

Is the above a photograph of your church? 

Are you one of the faithful members? Do your 
■children hear the voice of prayer daily in your home ? 
Do you teach them the Bible and the catechism? Are 
you a strict observer of the Sabbath day? Do you 
pay, at least a tithe of your income into the church, 
or does your parsimony make necessary a worldly 
^nancial church policy ? Oan you 'be depended upon 
to be in your place in the house of 'Grod, unless nec- 
essarily absent? 

Such a church may be small hut it is powerful. 
It is a mighty, conquering army. The members may 
be few but to get their real value weigh rather than 
number Israel. 

Three hundred Oideonites were worth more than 
a mixed multitude of thirty-two thousand. 



A Message for You. 263 

OHAPTER XL. 
A WITXESSIXO CHIJRiOH. 

"Ye shall be witnesses unto me." — Jesus. 

*'S'he is a woman of peculiar temperament. She 
italks in meeting, gets happy, shakes hands with ev- 
erybody, and shouts all over 1/he church." 

OLD-FASHIONED. 

**0h yes, she is a good woman. No one doubts her 
Ohristianity. I only wish that I had as good a Chris- 
tian experience and enjoyed my religion as she seems 
to enjoy hers. But I suppose it is not for every 
one.*' 

''I try to (live my religion. I don't believe in so 
much talk. Just live it — that's all. People will see 
w'hether you have it. Your talk won't influence 
them. It's what you are. I say live your religion. 
Don't talk it. For my part I don't feel like talking 
■about my religion. I don't have much to say. Per- 
haps I don't have much religion to talk about. But, 
really, to talk so much sounds like boasting and looks 
like hypocrisy. It is offensive to me. I don't be- 
lieve in it." 

''a voiceless church is a powerless church/' 

This woman, more than she knew, voiced the sen- 
timent of very many members of the church. As the 
church grows formal it discards Christian testimony. 



264 A Message for You. 

A worldly church becomes silent as a graveyard as 
regards speaking the praises of onr God. 

This lady, be it nnderstood, was a church member, 
<and an active church worker. An intelligent wom- 
an, a good converser, she mig'ht not perhaps be cailled 
a gossip, though free in the use of her tongue upon 
all current topics of church and neighborhood. She 
could express herself very freely too, about the peo- 
ple. But upon the subject of personal salvation she 
was reticent. She was not inclined to give a Chris- 
tian testimony and, for some cause, did not like to 
hear other people. 

god's word. 

Contrary to this the Scriptures teach that Chris- 
tians are God's witnesses. They are the light of the 
world, the salt of the earth. By their example the 
world is to know the nature of Christian living. 
Christians are the world's Bible, the living represen- 
tatives of Jesus upon earth. 

How are we to witness? By lip. This kind of 
testimony is necessary before a court. A man's life 
counts, but his verbal testimony is necessary. When 
on the witness stand it will not do to say, "let my 
life speak." He must speak with his lips. If he 
fails to witness he will be fined, or sent to jail for 
contempt of court. 

'^THEY ALL BEGAN TO SPEAK.^' 

There is a witness of the lips for Christ. He says, 
"Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and 
of my words in this adulterous and sinful genera- 



A Message for You, 2G5 

tion ; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, 
when he eometh in the glory of his Father with the 
holy angels." Mark 8:38. 

Paul speaks: ''For with the heart man helieveth 
■onto righteousness; and with the month confession 
is made unto saJlvation. ' ' Rom. 10 :10. 

The Psalmist says: ''I will bless the Lord at all 
times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

"My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the 
humble shall hear thereof and be glad. 

*'0, magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his 
name together." Psalm 34:1-3. 

THE WORLD HUNGERS TO KNOW. 

This testimony may be in the church. There we 
tell what the Lord has done for our souls. We 'are to 
witness our faith and to the fact of our personal 
salvation. Have your sins been forgiven? Do you 
know that you are a .child of God? Have you the 
witness of the Spirit to your adoption? Do you 
know of heart cleansing? Has the fear of death 
and hell been taken from you? Can you witness to 
the keeping power of God ? 

Upon these vital questions the world is anxious to 
hear competent witnesses. 

The testimony of the child of God is not confined 
to the church. It must also be in the home. The 
words that we speak and the life that we live there 
will be for or against our Christ. 

His witness will go beyond the family. The op- 
portunities in society to stand for God are constant. 



2(^Q A Message for You, 

A MAN^S LIFE SPEAKS. 

The Ohristian is to witness by his life. If he says 
that Ood has pardoned his sins and cleansed his soul 
from all unrighteousness, it behooves him to mani- 
fest the life of a redeemed man. 

If his life says one thing and his words another 
men believe the life testimony. "Actions speak loud- 
er than words." Some one has voiced human expe- 
rience in the words, ''I cannot hear what you say 
for seeing what you are." Life and lip testimony 
should be equal. To talk rich 'cream and live skim 
milk is a deception that will be discovered and the 
subject of it despised. 

RELTGION" WITH A TONGUE TO IT. 

A worldly church says, "witness with your life. 
Live your religion. Do all the good you can. Be 
active for the church. Give money. But we don't 
wan't your Christian testimony." 

There is a tendency to hold forth a beautiful moral 
life as the fruit of godliness and to shut off verbal 
testimony. But Grod's plan is that we shall honor 
him with both our lips and lives. He says, "With 
the mouth 'confession is made uuto salvation. ' ' 

'However good the outer life may be, the testimony 
of the imouth is necessary for men to understand this 
great salvation. 

iSuppose that you have been healed of a serious 
malady. Gratitude would require you to acknowl- 
edge the skill of the physician. How else could oth- 
ers afflicted learn that they might be healed? While 



A Message for You. 267 

ihiiinan nature remains as it is and our holy religion 
is a gift of Ood^s love we shall need the testimony 
of the lips as well as the life, to the glory of God 
for his great salvation. 

It is cause of regret with many spiritnially minded 
people that testimony meetings are in many places 
neglected and allowed to fall into decay. 

In the early history of the ehnrch such meetings 
prevailed. Meetings of the people and for the peo- 
ple were cultivated, and the church prospered. Souls 
were saved and sanctified and powerful revivals 
sprung up. 

It often happens when the ehurch comes to a po- 
sition of wealth and culture that meetings of prayer 
and praise are neglected. Such services are criti- 
cised as being crude efforts of ignorant men. The 
laity, it is said, should not speak or pray. They can 
not do it correctly. Besides they easily run to ex- 
cess. Such services need guidance, of course. All 
live things do. 

The lecture, the concert and the oyster supper of- 
ten take the place of the service of prayer and tes- 
timony. With the new regime goes a lack of spirit- 
uality and peace and power in holy living. Men lose 
•at the point of knowing God and being able to pray, 
and praise and bring the fire down from heaven. 
They cease to know how to live above the world of 
sin. 



268 A Message for You. 

OHAFTBR XLI. 

TFfE REVR^AL MEETING IS NOT /VLL. 

"Like the air, the church must press equally on all the 
surfaces of society; like the sea, flow into every nook of 
the shore line of humanity; and, like the sun, shine on 
things foul and low as well as fair and high, for she was 
organized, commissioned, and equipped for the moral 
renovation of the world." — Bishop Simpson. 

**01i yes, we 'liad a wonderful revival. iSeven 'hun- 
dred gave the evangelist their hand, and promised 
to live better lives. 

"The men's meetings were largely attended. Men 
of whom you wouldn't expect it took an active part. 

"And such crowds! The people poured into the 
tent. They would stay and listen and sing, two and 
three hours, and come back night after night for 
three weeks. And they didn't get tired. If they 
idid, they seemed not to mind a little thing like that. 
They were interested and curious too, I suppose. 
Yes, and people we never see in churches crowded 
the tent and would sing and listen and not miss a 
single meeting. I guess some of them did up their 
religion all at once, for the year. 

THE CROWDS. 

' ' We all hoped that everything would be different 
in our city and churches -after the ''big meeting.* 
Well, for two or three weeks after the evangelist 
went away big crowds attended the church services 



A Message for You. 269 

and considerable interest was manifested, but tliree 
months have passed, and you would scarcely know 
that there had been a revival." 

This was the substance of an old time Methodist's 
remarks with reference to a tent meeting that had 
been held in the city of which she was a resident, and 
it reflects a popular and growing view of evangelistic 
meetings. 

Others said that the influence of the meeting was 
still felt in the city, that some redeemed men were 
''holding out." They considered the meeting a 
power for good and an influence that made for right- 
eousness. Indeed, one of the greatest blessings that 
the community had enjoyed for years. 

Reports of the meeting, the like of which is dupli- 
cated everywhere, lead to the following observations : 

We may expect too much of the special revival 
service. Any good, in the popular estimation, is not 
too much to ask. We scarcely expect the miracu- 
lous. And any failure in results is ahargeable to 
the meeing. 

This is not just to the meeting — it is a narrow, 
prejudiced view. A more comprehensive estimate 
would take into account many influences that make 
or mar the kingdom. I name three : 

THE FAMILY. 

Children and young people from well ordered re- 
ligious families converted during a general awaken- 
ing unite with the church and continue in the faith. 

On the other hand the young from irreligious 



270 A Message for You. 

'homes, who are awakened and start the 'Christian 
life upon these great occasions often fall by the way. 
And why should they not? What chance do Chris- 
tian young people have in godless homes ? The wick- 
ed father and worldly mother can no more nourish 
spiritual children than alligators 'can nurse infants. 

A large percentage of hacksliders come from irre- 
ligious homes. No family altar, the Bible neglected, 
religious conversation an intrusion, prayer regarded 
as fanaticism, religion ridiculed, churches and min- 
isters misunderstood, worldly companions and prac- 
tices encouraged is foul atmosphere in which to raise 
saints. But thank God for some under these circum- 
stances. ''There were saints in Caesar's household.'' 

The converted husband, whose wife is worldly or 
wicked, has poor opportunity to become a well- 
rounded and fruitful member of the church. If she 
is selfish she will ruin him before he is done with him, 
and then scoff at him because he did not "hold out." 

I have found scores of wives backslidden in heart 
and life because they were "tied up" to husbands 
who were "without God and hope in the world. " 

The family is largely responsible for the general 
backsliding of the converts of any revival. 

THE CHURCH. 

The spiritual life of the church is potent affecting 
the individual life. Converts who are received into 
formal churches fare as well as infants nursing at 
'breasts of dead mothers. 

Pastors who lack the Spirit's power and grace tend 



A Message for You. 371 

to freeze out the glow of life in the heart of young 
Christians. Mem'bers devoid of the grace of God 
surely as the laws of gravitation operate, draw con- 
verts to the dead level of their unsanctified lives. 

Again, a lifeless church is responsible for the fall- 
ing away of multitudes from their first love. 

THE SCHOOL. 

And by school I include the whole educational sys- 
tem from Primary Department to University. It is 
almost impossible to hold a meeting to reach children 
and young people. 

The work of the school is so organized that the 
young have little time to attend a meeting. School 
life is strenuous. From first to last pupils must be 
*'up and doing" to make grades. They scarcely 
have time to grow healthy, strong bodies. The 
schooPs one work is to train the mental powers. If 
the young attend revival services it is at a sacrifice 
his his studies. The lessons are as long as ever and, I 
have thought that, same teachers put more work on 
pupils to keep them from the meetings, believing that 
the services interfere with school work. 

With Bible banished from Public School, and 
*'<julture exercises" substituted at ''opening exer- 
cises" for prayer and Scripture reading the teacher 
•comes to look askance at religion and .special services 
as an intrusion. 

Teachers in school and university as a class are 
cultured, moral and high grade men and women, but 
chary of religion. They fear sectarianism and keep 



272 A Message for You. 

open eye on Romanist, Jew and infidel. Though none 
of these may be in the community, the fear of them 
is everywhere present. Thus the school system, per- 
haps without intention, is, more and more, a closed 
door to special revival effort. 

KEEP ON PRAYING. 

Still we pray, "Oh, Lord, revive thy wor'k.'^ He 
has been gracious to His people in the past, is now 
blessing us according to our faith and we believe, in 
His own vray, will more abundantly answer the pray- 
'er of His people for a state and world-wide outpour- 
ing of the Holy Spirit. 



xl Message for Yon. 273 

CHAPTEH XLII. 
THE COST OF A EEVITAL. 

.... "The great cr}-- cf our day is work, work, work, 
new organizations, new methods, new machinery; the 
great need of our day is prayer." 

— R. A. Torrey, in "oHw To Pray." 

Every year the churches conduct special revival 
services. It is well to lay down again and again the 
conditions of true revival success, the principles un- 
derlying a revival of righteousness. 

It should be remembered that a revival is solemn 
business. It is the most important business that can 
concern any community. It is far removed from a 
half holiday, or a day of pleasure. It is not designed 
to take the place of an old settler's meeting, or a 
family reunion. 

FALSE REVIVALS. 

There are revivals and revivals. There are false 
revivals. There are man-made revivals and God- 
sent revivals. There are emotional revivals and so- 
cial revivals. 

There are revivals in which men dictate to God, 
■dictate to the Bible and dictate to the Holy Spirit. 
They limit the Holy One of Israel. There are revi- 
vals with little sense of sin, scant repentance, and 
confession of sin, no restriction for wrongdoing, no 
sense of forgiveness and no victory over sin. 



274 A Message for You. 

The cry of convicted sinners for mercy would be 
out of place. The shout of new bom souls would be 
indecorous. The amens and hallelujahs of God^s 
victorious children would be hushed ^as sacrilegious 
in Ood's house. 

A revival that is full of new plans and methods in 
which the Holy Ohost is ignored, gotten up in the 
interest of our society, to replenish an empty church 
treasury, fill up the vacant pews, make good reports 
at conference, or give the church or minister stand- 
ing in the city or the association, may be a curse in- 
stead of a blessing, may breed infidels by the thous- 
ands and send souls to hell by deceiving them and 
setting up other standards than the Bible standard 
wihich is "the only rule and the sufficient rule of our 
faith and practice. ' ' 

To promote true revivals men must get right with 
Ood. They must confess and forsake their wrong- 
doings. If church members have been drinking, ly- 
ing, stealing, swearing, slandering one another, in- 
dulgiug in unforgiving tempers ; if men have been 
covetous, making money their God ; if the rich have 
defrauded the poor, grinding their faces to the earth 
by paying them insufficient wages while they have 
rolled in wealth ; if the poor have been jealous of the 
rich or cheated their Cimployers; if church members 
have neglected the house of God, private and family 
prayer and the word of God, there needs to be con- 
fession to 'God and man. Eestitution must be made 
vrhere possible and the sin heartily repented of and 



A Message for You. 275- 

forsaken as destruction of God's glory and ruinous, 
of men 's souls. 

Let it be said over a thousand times that dancing, 
theater-going, card-playing, professors of religion 
cannot promote a true revival. They may ''make a 
show in the flesh. ' ' They may * * make 'believe, ' ' may 
play at revivals, just as they play ''keep church," 
but they are not in earnest. They don't mean any- 
thing by it. These cannot do business for God. God 
cannot trust them. They make a mockery of God 
and sacred things. They are not believed by the 
world. They do not believe in themselves, at the last 
analysis. And God does not believe in them. Pleas- 
ure is their God. And "ishe that liveth in pleasure 
is dead while she liveth. ' ' 

OUT AND OUT. 

Such pleasure seekers, wha;tever their station in 
life or position in the church are, at the best, doubt- 
ful Christians. They are without power. Mark it, 
they are without power. They are not "out and 
out" for God. They do not make "the Kingdom 
first. ' ' They lack the one thing needful. They need 
regeneration, and need to "be filled with the Spirit." 

However, these professors talk, they do not want a 
true revival of religion. They would not have a re- 
vival from God to come to the church. It would ex- 
pose their sins and hypocrisies. 

These professors have a religion without sacrifice. 
They don't believe in self-denial. They say that re- 
ligion is a pleasant thing, that God wants his children. 



276 A Message for You. 

to be happy. A religion with self-sacrifice is old- 
fashioned. 

PRAYER THE KEY. 

They forget that the religion of Jesus is full of 
sacrifice of the lower for the higher nature and 
•of one for another. And that the peace of God flows 
as a river in the redeemed soul. 

Finally, prayer is the golden key that unlocks the 
storehouse of Ood's grace and mercy. The revivals 
of the Bible always came in answer to prevailing 
prayer. The revivals of history that saved society 
from going to decay had their birth in agonizing, be- 
lieving prayer. Such was the experience of Luther, 
Knox, Wesley, Edwards, Finney and Moody. 

The recent Welch revival was the product of pray- 
er and was permeated by the spirit and power of 
prayer. Prayer was more in evidence than preach- 
ing. Methods, machinery, organization and even 
preaching took a subordinate place. The living God 
was appealed to in homes, mines, fields, at family and 
church altars and not in vain. He answered by fire 
as in the days of old. 

PF-.Y FOR REVIVAL. 

Planning is well, machinery may be needed, new 
methods may have a place, but all will fail in redeem- 
ing men without the life of God in the soul. We 
need life and power, and prayer. Much prayer, pre- 
vailing prayer will give the victory. 

Children of God, let us pray. Let us pray. And 
God will hear and answer. Only faint not. 

*'0h Lord revive thy work.'* 



A Message for You. 277 

CCELiPTBR XLIII. 
THE XEED OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 

The Holy Spirit is the deepest need of the human 
heart, and he is promised to "supply all your need accord- 
ing to his riches." 

The Lord, speaking through the Prophet Joel, said, 
''And it shall come to pass in the last days I will pour 
out my Spirit upon all flesh ; and your sons and your 
daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall 
see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. 
And on my servants and on my hand maidens I will 
pour out in those days of my Spirit. ' ' 

John the Baptist, careful to differentiate 'between 
himself and Christ, said: "I indeed baptize you with 
water unto repentance ; but he that cometh after me 
is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to 
bear : he shall baptize you with the Holy Ohost, and 
with fire." Matt. 3:11. 

FIRE WE NEED. 

I have heard earnest and able preaching that was 
in John the Baptist's dispensation. It was "with 
water unto repentance." The higher mission of 
Christ to baptize with the Holy Ghost and fire was 
not clearly apprehended. 

Some preachers quote, "There is one Lord, one 
faith and one baptism, ' ' and ask with ^an air of tri- 
umph -what is the one baptism? My unhesitating 



'^78 A Message for You. 

answer is, not water in any form, proper as that is, 
as an admission into the visible church. The one 
essential baptism is Christ's baptism — ^the baptism 
with "the Holy Ohost and fire." 

THE COMFORTER. 

Jesus, looking to the promise of the Father, said : 
*'But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ohost, whom 
the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you 
all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, 
whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26. 
' ' Nevertheless I tell you the truth ; it is expedient for 
you that I igo away : for if I go not away, the Com- 
forter will not come unto you ; but if I depart I will 
send him unto you. And when he is come, he will 
reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of 
judgment." John 16:7, 8. 

During those days of anxiety the disciples were re- 
ceiving many parting instructions from their Master 
and Lord. The full import of these they did not un- 
derstand. Their views were mixed as to his mission 
and the nature of his kingdom. 

Before his ascension, to encourage his disciples to 
expect the long promised gift of the Holy Ohost, he 
said: *'But tarry ye in Jerusalem until ye be en- 
dued with power from on high. . . .Ye shall receive 
power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." 
'"this is that.'^ 

*'And when the day of Pentecost was fully come 

they were all with one accord in one place And 

they were all filled with the Holy Ohost." 



A Message for You. 279 

And Peter, explaining the manifestation of power 
to the wondering multitude, cried out: "This is that 

which was spoken by the Prophet Joel I will pour 

out my Spirit upon all flesh." 

''sanctify them/' 

A proper discrimination requires it to he said that 
the day of Pentecost was not the time of the apostles ' 
conversion. It is not thinkable to me that the Savior 
would send forth disciples to heal the sick, raise the 
dead and preach the gospel to sinful men who them- 
selves were dead in trespasses and in sins. They 
were regenerated men. He said of them in His in- 
tercessory prayer: 'They have kept thy word; they 
are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 
I pray for them, I pray not for the world ; the world 
hath hated them because they are not of the world." 

They were certainly converted and spiritual men. 
We would 'be glad to have such disciples in the 
church today. But there was something lacking in 
their experience. And Jesus prays, "Sanctify them 
through thy truth. Thy word is truth. ' ' 

DOUBTING THOMAS. 

They sometimes manifested spirits at variance 
with the gospel. They were vindictive, ambitious, 
cowardly and envious lat times. Jesus pointed them 
to the better day when they should receive the pow- 
er of the Holy Ghost. 

After this they were different men. We hear no 
more of Thomas doubting, of John and James ambi- 



280 A Message for You. 

tious for place in the kingdom of strife for the pre- 
eminence. 

Peter, fickle, rasli and cowardly by turns, becomes 
Tinder the enduement of power, Peter the rock. 
Standing before the men who killed Jesus, he charged 
them with the crime of murder. The man who be- 
fore the Pentecost cowered before a maid and denied 
his Lord, after receiving the baptism with the Holy 
Ohost, charged the wild mob with crucifying the just 
and holy One. 

FOR ALL FLESH. 

Pentecost is the permanent inheritance of the 
church. It is our heritage. It is for all flesh. It is 
for us as children of iG-od. And I ask as the apos- 
tles asked the church of Corinth, ''Have ye received 
the Holy 'Grhost since ye believed?" 

THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

We need the gift of the Holy Ghost as we need 
'bread. It is not cake. It is not luxury for a select 
few, ^but the bread of life for the perishing multi- 
tudes of earth. It was promised, "I will pour out 
my Spirit upon all flesh" — "all flesh." How compre- 
hensive ! Not upon the apo-stles alone, but upon the 
women, including the mother of Jesus, and all of the 
disciples, the one hundred and twenty, and beyond 
that company. The promise is to you and to your chil- 
dren and to as many <as are afar off, and to as many 
as the Lord your God shall call. 

Blessed be ihe Lord, the Holy Ghost is God's gift 



A Message for You, ^81 

for his children of every age and clime. And it is 
for us. It is for you. It is for me. 

1. We need the Holy Spirit in the family. There 
the relation is most intimate. The mask is taken 
off and real character is shown. If we are selfish 
and wilful it will be manifest. That we may be un- 
selfish and full of love, we need to 'be filled with the 
Spirit. 

BUSINESS MEN. 

2. We need the Holy Spirit in society. In busi- 
ness the spirit of competition is rife. Means of suc- 
cess are not always honorable. They range all the 
way from doubtful to outlandishly wicked. Temp- 
tations to depart from the path of rectitude are many 
and severe. The staying power in any man is the 
Holy Spirit. 

3. We speak of politics as a dirty pool. Its metli- 
•ods and spirit are bad. Many mighty men have fal- 
len upon the fields of politics. The Christian needs 
to possess this mighty field for Christ. 

So in society. We say it is shallow and insincere. 
We are social beings. We need to mingle together. 
We may not be recluses wdthout injury to ourselves 
and the gospel. 

OUR CHUBCH vows. 

As church members we cannot fulfill our vows 
without the Holy Spirit. They will be a dead letter 
without the indwelling -Holy Ohost. We will live in- 
consistent lives and fall into sin. How many of the 
church have gone down before the Amazon of world- 



282 A Message for You, 

iiness that iimndates Zion because they have not 
sought and obtained the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
*'Oome Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, 
With all thy quickening powers ; 
Oome, shed abroad a Savior's love, 
And that shall kindle ours. ' ' 



A Message for You. 283 



CHAPTE-E XLIV. 



TO YOUNG PEBACHBRS. 

"The lowest pulpit on earth is higher than the highest 
throne." — Anon. 

"In old Egypt it was established by law that the vote of 
a prophet be reckoned equal to a hundred hands. I think 
lit was underestimated." — Emerson. 

No man should enter the ministry unless called of 
■God, as was Aaron. Much harm has come to the 
ministry and the church from young men entering 
this high and holy calling without a call or a mes- 
sage. 

The ministry is not to be viewed as a profession, 
but as a calling. In some sense the candidate for 
holy orders should feel as the Apostle Paul, who 
cried out, "Woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gos- 
pel.'' 1 Cor. 9 :16. And he will have some such mig'hty 
impulsion when God lays his hand on him. Con- 
viction of duty, a sense of ought, should constrain 
him, at whatever sacrifice, to proclaim the glorious 
gospel of Jesus Christ to dying men. The "pro- 
fessions" may beckon him, the world of trade may 
offer flattering inducements, but under the call of 
God, he must turn a deaf ear to every other voice. 

A CONVICTION OF DUTY. 

The peculiar trials and temptations ; the sacrifices. 



^84 A Message for You. 

the yielding of 'Ms rights for the good of the church ; 
the oft changes of fields of labor, the poverty and the 
strain in many ways will sicken a man and cause him 
to grow faint of heart unless he has a deep and well 
founded conviction of duty that will anch'or him in 
every storm. 

The preacher should be baptized with the Holy 
Spirit. All men should be. But in a peculiar sense 
the minister should receive his Pentecost. He is 
called to be a leader of men in spiritual things. If 
he is a blind leader of the blind all will fall together 
into the ditch. 

THE PREACHER SHOULD BE SANCTIFIED. 

TOie Bible is the preacher's text book. In it he 
reads, "Be ye holy that bear the vessels of the Lord.'' 
''Be ye therefore perfect." The prayer of Christ, 
"sanctify them," must be his oft repeated study. 
Paul's prayer, "And the very God of peace sanctify 
you holy; and I pray God your whole spirit and 
soul and body be preserved blameless unto the com- 
ing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that 
ealleth you who also will do it." 1 Thess. 5:23, 24. 
This is not an obscure Scripture of doubtful meaning. 
It is one of the mighty Scriptures with vrhich the 
preacher must often wrestle. The hundreds of 
Scriptures presenting the duty, to be holy in com- 
mand, in exhortation, in prayer, in prophesy and 
symbol should bear with terrible weight upon the 
preacher's heart and conscience until he yields to the 



A Message for Yov. 285 

voice of GrO'd to be sanctified wholly and filled with 
the Spirit. 

BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. 

The lig^ht that is thrown upon the preacher's path ; 
the vows that he has taken upon himself ; the condi- 
tion and need of the church ; the open Bible ; the 
promptings of his ow^n heart and the leadings of the 
Holy Spirit, all lay on him the imperative duty to 
tarry in Jerusalem until he be endued with power 
from on high. 

The command, be filled with the Spirit, is positive 
and binding upon him, and all believers, as the com- 
mand to keep the Sabbath day holy, or to not steal 
or kill. What right have we to pick and choose which 
of Grod's commands we will obey? Is he an honest 
man who will knowingly break or neglect to obey 
any of Grod's commands? 

No man can come to the maximum of his power 
who is not baptized with the Holy Spirit and with 
fire. He will be subject to fears and doubts ; he will 
be weakened by native timidity or over rashness; 
he will be beset with unbelief, love of the world, am- 
bition, or envy or lust. 

A EREE MAN. 

The baptism with the Holy Spirit will make him a 
free man in Christ Jesus, give him victory over the 
world, the flesh and the devil and increase his power 
to win men for G-od. 

The church is awake to the need of an educated 
ministry. But we are stressing this rather than the 



2S6 A Message for You. 

prime need. Puit first things first. How fatal -the 
error to put first things second or last. Education 
is imp'ortant but the baptism with the Holy iGrhost, 
an unction from the Holy One, is imperative. This 
is true religion, the very core of the Gospel. With- 
'out the Holy Spirit, preachers are a failure, in the 
great work to which tliey are called, whatever their 
other qualifications may be. Position, wealth, learn- 
ing, culture, oratory and all gifts are not to be de- 
spised, but these are nothing as compared to the 
deep, fundamental need, the enduement with power 
from on high. My G-od, send it upon His servants 
that they may be God-sent leaders, a mighty con- 
quering army. 

STRANGE GODS. 

The ibaptism of the Holy Spirit is imperative to 
keep the ministry from going after strange gods, to 
keep them from becoming heterodox. The church is 
being cursed by certain professors in church schools, 
'Challenging the truth of the Bible, and by a certain 
class of ministers who are going as far as they dare 
in undermining faith in the Bible as the word of God. 

There is a place for a proper and reverent, critical 
examination of the Scriptures. But there is no 
place for the reckless pen-knife. The destructive 
critic does not belong in the pulpit. Eating the 
(bread of the church it is only common honesty that 
he should be true to vows he voluntarily assumed. 

A good deal of higher criticism is infidelity in dis- 
guise. 



A Message for You. 287 

INFIDELITY. 

Dr. Torrey in his valuable little book, "How to 
Pray," writing on the need of a general revival, 
said of the condition of many ministers in the church 
today : 

"Many of us who are professedly orthodox minis- 
ters are practically infidels. That is plain speech, 
but it is also an indisputable fact. There is no es- 
sential difference between the teachings of Tom 
Paine and Bob IngersoU and -the teachings of some 
of our theological professors. The latter are not so 
blunt and honest about it ; they phrase it in more ele- 
gant and studied sentences; but it means the same. 
Much of the so-called new learning and higher crit- 
icism is simply Tom Paine infidelity sugar coated. 
Prof. Howard Osgood, who is a real scholar and not 
a mere echo of German infidelity, once read a state- 
ment of some positions, and asked if they did not 
fairly represent the scholarly criticism of today, and 
w^hen it was agreed that they did, he startled his au- 
dience by saying: 'I am reading from Tom Paine 's 
Age of Reason,' " 

Nothing but the baptism with the Holy Spirit and 
fire, will save the ministry from degenerating into 
infidelity, worldliness and wickedness. We have the 
sad example of the church of past ages. But this 
will keep them true. If they are true to the Holy 
Ghost, they will be true to the Scriptures ; they will 
be true to man's real interests; they will be true to 
themselves. They will never strike 'a false note. 



288 A Message for You. 

CHAPTEiE XLV. 
FR/OiM HOUSiB TO HOUSiE. 

"A house-going pastor makes a church-going people." 

— Theodore Cuyler. 

The pastor of a large church might almost be called 
a "captain of industry," with over-sight of multi- 
plied concerns for which he is resiponsible. 

THE CHURCH FINANCES. 

Can we find a pastor of large or small church, for 
that matter, who is not taxed with financial projects? 
Perhaps building 'a $150,000 church, 'or a $4,000 meet- 
ing house may require as great generalship to install 
as the larger plant. 

The preacher is apt to be rated at -conference by 
the money ''his iconcern" represents. His report is 
largely financial. This will give emphasis and di- 
rection to his labors. 

Early Methodism represented a simple proposition. 
Few 'church buildings; the preacher's pulpit might 
(be a stump in the field, and his church a log cabin, 
the home of a pioneer. 

On horseback, with saddlebags, he threaded the 
wilderness and lived, labored, joyed, suffered and 
died with our hardy forefathers who hewed down 
forests and broke the virgin soil. 

THE EARLY DAY. 

Circumstances forced the preacher to live with his 



A Message for You. 289 

people. Their lot was his lot. His lot dependent, it 
was to his interest to be sociable. He naturally cul- 
tivated pastoral work. It was a necessity. It was 
'his life. 

Whether pastoral visiting is Wianing in our day 1 
cannot answer in a broad way. But many pastors 
never visit their people and some do not systemat- 
ically visit even the sick and aged. Such pastors 
sometimes say, ''If people are sick and desire my 
presence, let them send for me and I will gladly go." 
These instances are too numerous. 

The pastor may say, *'I am too busy; I am called 
to preach the pospel, not to visit people. The pulpit 
is the preacher's throne of power, and if I properly 
fill it my energies will be absorbed in the study." 

Sometimes it is whispered that it is not the proper 
thing for a gentleman to visit the homes of the peo- 
ple. This writer believes that it is proper for a gen- 
tleman to visit any home with an object to do good. 

MUST KNOW THE PEOPLE. 

Many pastors do not know their people, even af- 
ter tw^o or three years' pastorate. The people under 
those circumstances feel that they are not properly 
regarded. I never knew a preacher who neglected 
his pastoral work to be popular, in the best sense, 
with his people. And I have known churches where 
the pastor failed at this point, to go gradually back 
in finances, church attendance and spirituality, 
though the pulpit w^ork might be well done. 



890 A Message for You. 

LACK OF HEART. 

Dr. Buckley, editor of the 'Cliristian Advocate, re- 
lates the f'ollowiiiig conversation which may be dnpli- 
cated too often : 

*'We as'ked a friend, ''How do you like our pas- 
tor ? ' ' and received this reply : 

''We haven't one. Dr. X is a good preacher 

and has no trouble in securing an audience, but he 
hasn't been in my house since he came, two years 
ago, except when we have formally invited him to 
dinner. ' ' 

"Does he devote most of his time to study?" 
"A fair amount, I think, and his sermons are, as I 
said, excellent, but visiting his parishioners seems 
la bore to him; their private affairs do not specially 
interest him." 

"Is he faithful to the sick and to those in afflict- 
ion?" 

"I have a neighbor, a patient Christian girl, who 
has been in bed for years from spinal trouble, and 
she told me recently that she had not heard a prayer 
for five months. I asked her if Dr. X never 



came in." 



" 'Yes,' she said, 'he has been here twice. I sent 
for him the first time, (but he tried to 'cheer me up' 
by telling me how becoming invalidism is to me, and 
h'ow happy I must be in having such an accomplished 
and famous brother. The second visit was a similar 
•waste of time. ' Is he ashamed of his discipleship ? ' ' 



4 Message for You. 291 

**But/' we asked, "may not this neglect of oppor- 
tunity 'be exceptional?'' 

''I fear not," the friend responded. '*I have 
known of several families who sorely needed a min- 
ister in the truest sense of the word. ' ' 

The laity, the bishops tell us, continually petition 
conferences to send them pastors who will visit and 
care for the people. They demand good preachers,, 
but they must be pastors as well. One prominent 
layraan said, ''I wish that our pastor would jolly the 
people more. He isn't a good mixer." 

This writer thinks there is little need of that kind 
of pastors. G-ossiping, jollying preachers are a 
dou'btful blessing. But men of Ood, going into 
homes with words of cheer, comfort 'and prayer, are 
a blessing that can never be estimated. 

If people need the pastor, equally so he needs to 
keep close to the people. There is danger that with 
university and seminary and big library back of him, 
the preacher will sail too high in his Sunday morn- 
ing flights for the dear people to follow him. But if 
he visits the people, knows their needs and sympa- 
thizes with them he will be kept level. And he will 
be, if not more learned 'and eloquent, a better, more 
humane, more sane and helpful preacher. 

PERSON'AL WORK. 

If the pastor's object is to win people to Christ 
what means will ibe m'ore effective than personal, 
dealing, going from house to house ? 

Dr. Peck, in "Kevival and Pastor," says, ''What 



292 A Message for You. . 

will appeal to devout ministers: that if he had a 
thousand souls to win in ten years as a condition of 
his own salvation and must choose between sermon 
and personal appeal he would choose the latter as the 
surest method of winning success." 

Tn the Discipline, chapter, "Qualifications and 
Work/' section, "Piastoral Fidelity," words are 
found that should weigh tons upon every pastor's 
heant, as follows : 

"What avails public preaching alone, though we 
could preach like angels ? We must, yea, every trav- 
eling preacher must instruct 'the people from house 
to house. Till this be done, and that in good ear- 
nest, Methodists will be no hetter." 

"Our religion is not sufficiently deep, universal, 
uniform; 'but superficial, partial uneven. It 
will be so till we spend half as much time 
time in this visiting las we now do in talking useless- 
ly. Can we find a better method of doing this than 
Mr. Baxter's? If not let us adopt it without delay. 
His wihole tract is well worth careful perusal. Speak- 
ing of this visiting from house to house he says, ^ ' We 
shall find many hindrances, both in ourselves and 
the people." 1. In ourselves, there is much dulness 
and laziness, so that there will be much ^ado to get 
us to be faithful in the work. 2. We have a base, 
man-pleasing temper, so that we let people perish 
rather than lose their love, we let them go quietly 
to hell lest we should offend them. 3. Some of us 
also have a foolish bashfulness. We know not how 



A Message for You. 293 

to begin, and blush to contradict the devil. 4. But 
the greatest hindrance is weakness of faith. Our 
w'hole motion is weak, -because the sipring 'of it is 
weak. 5. Lastly, we are unskilful in the work. 
How few know how to deal with men, so as to get 
within them, and suit all our discourse to their sev- 
eral conditions and tempers ; to choose the fittest 
subjects and follow them with a holy mixture of se- 
riousness, terror, love, and meekness!" But it is 
objected: "This will take up so much time that we 
shall not have leisure to follow our studies." 

"We answer number 1. Gaining knowledge is a 
good thing, but saving souls is a hetter. 2. By this 
very thing you will gain the most excellent knowl- 
edge, that of Ood and eternity. 3. You will have 
time for gaining other knowledge, too, only sleep no 
more than you need and never be idle, nor triflingly 
employed. But, 4. If you can do but one, let your 
studies alone. We ought to throw by all the libra- 
ries in the world, rather than be guilty of the loss of 
one soul. 

The sum is, "Go into every house in course, and 
teach every one therein, young and old, to be Chris- 
tians inwardly land outwardly ; make every particu- 
lar plain to their understandings ; fix it in their 
minds ; write it on their hearts. In order to do this 
there must be precept upon precept, line upon line. 
What patience, what love, what knowledge is requi- 
site for this! We must needs do this, were 
at 'Only to avoid idleness. Do we not loiter 



■294 A Message for You. 

away many hours in every week? Each. 
try himself; no idleness is consistent with a growth 
in grace. Nay, without exactness in redeeming time 
yon cannot retain the grace you received in justifica- 
tion." 

If pastors were faithful in this duty, the church 
would soon realize the glorious revival for which de- 
viout Christians the world over are earnestly praying, 



A Message for You. 295 

OHAPTEIl XLVI. 
FrN^AN^Ci:NPG THE KINGDOM. 

"There is needed one more revival among Christians, a 
revival of Christian giving; when that revival comes, the 
Kingdom of God will come in a day." 

— Horace Bushnell. 

*'0h my!" said a devoted chureih member, ''money 
is the bugbear of the church. It is money, money, 
always money. If it was not for money we could 
get along. I wish that the church could do without 
money." 

How many have devoutly wished that the church 
was not dependent upon the sinews of war for sup- 
port. 

But there is no mistake in connecting money with 
the kingdom. It is God's plan. He requires us to 
build and maintain his church ; to expend our time, 
energy and money. While we do this he develops 
us in strength, nobility and beauty of character. 
While we build a 'church Go'd builds the costlier tem- 
ple of character. He builds a man. 

God could have ordained angels to minister to 
men — angels without corporeal structure, who do not 
eat, drink, wear clothes, live in houses, travel or read 
books. An order of beings that would be no mate- 
rial expense to the church. But this is not his plan. 

MONEY THE BUGBEAR. 

He has called to the ministry men of like passions 



^'96 A Message for You. 

with ourselves. Men who musl; be supported. Men 
of wthom it is said that when they minister to the 
church in spiritual things it is no great thing that 
they should receive our carnal things. 

Money a **hug hear?" Behold the shifts to which 
the church resorts to get money ! Festivals, socials, 
grah bags, concerts — anything for money. 

I have seen a blind man sitting in a public place 
with a card on his breast inscribed, "Please help the 
blind," and his hand out-stretched to receive the pen- 
nies that a benevolent public might put into it. 

This is a picture of the church posing before the 
community as a beggar waiting for alms from any 
who are disposed to give. It never seemed right that 
it should be so ; but it is a necessity because of the 
penury of God's people. 

GOD HAS A PLAN". 

It is remarkable how many rules or principles are 
found in the Bible to (govern our lives. The duties 
of parents and children; husbands and wives; rulers 
and subjects ; ministers and members are all plainly 
set forth. He has rules or principles to govern us 
in business, politics and pleasure. 

'Since God has a plan for our whole lives, it seems 
that he would have a method for so important 
a concern as supporting the church. 

He has organized the church and laid upon certain 
men the duty to preach the gospel, so that they have 
felt woe is me if I preach not the gospel. He would 



A Message for You. 207 

not certamly, as a 'Grod of order, leave the support of 
His <?hurch and His ministry to the whims, prejudice, 
selfishness and ignorance of the people. He would 
have a plan for carrying on his work — one "that 
•would he adequate to His design to conquer the 
world for Christ. 

He has a plan. It is set forth in the word. It is 
so plainly written that he who runs may read. And, 
marvel of marvels, that the church adopts every oth- 
er scheme and device among men for raising money 
•and fails to see, perhaps is unwilling to know, the 
■only plan G-od has ever given. 

THE TITHE. 

The tithe was in vogue before the Mosaic law. It 
was practiced by ancient heathen nations. It cer- 
tainly was practiced bj the Patriarchs. 

Hundreds of years before the giving of the law 
by Moses, Abram paid tithes to Melchisedec, and 
Jacob vowed to pay God one-tenth of his increase. 

The first mention of the tithe under the Levitical 
law is the statement that "the tithe is the Lord's." 
Lev. 27:30. The tithe is the Lord's as the Sabbath 
is the Lord's. One-tenth of our income and one- 
seventh of OLir time is God's order. 

The tithe was not created by Moses. It Wias rec- 
ognized by the law. The tithe was harnessed and 
used in working the Jewish church. 

Religion was amply provided for among the Jews. 
**One cent of every ten cents; ten cents of every dol- 
lar; one dollar of every ten dollars; ten dollars of 



2d 8 A Message for You. 

every one hundred dollars the pious Jew paid for the 
support of 'the Sanctuary. ' ' 

The backslidings of the Jewish people were al- 
ways 'Connected with a falling away from their ob- 
servance of the tithe. It was so in the days of Ne- 
hemiah. 

BOBBERS. 

Hear the pr'ophet Malachi cry out against the na- 
tion : ' ' Will a man rob Grod ? Yet ye have robbed 
me. But ye say, wherein have we robbed thee? In 
tithes and offerings. 

'*Ye are eursed with a curse; for ye have robbed 
me, even this whole nation. 

''Bring ye all the tithes into 'the storehouse, that 
there may he meat in mine house, and prove me now 
herewith, saith the LoM of hosts, if I will not open 
you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a bless- 
ing that there shall not be room enough to receive 
it." Mai. 3:8-10. 

GOD^S HOUSE THE TREASURY. 

The church in making an effort after revival is 
resorting to all sorts of elever devices to improve her 
condition. If she would eonsent to he honest with 
G^od and pay the tithe into the storehouse the very 
windows of heaven would be opened and the bless- 
ings of Grod, temporal and spiritual, would be poured 
out. 

The Old Testament teaches that the tithe should 
he brought to Good's house. Moses says: **But unto 
the place which the Lord your God shall choose to 



A Message for You. 291) 

put his name there, thither thou shall <iome; and 
thither ye shall bring your tithes, and your vows, 
and your freewill offerings. Ye shall not do every 
man w'hatsoever is right in his own eyes.'* 

"There shall be a place which the Lord your God 
shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, thith- 
er shall ye hring all that I command you, your sac- 
rifices, your tithes, and all your choice vows which 
ye vow unto the Lord." 

''Only the holy thing wihich thou hast, and thy 
vows, thou shalt take, and go unto the place which 
the Lord shall choose." 

Nehemiah speaks of bringing the tithe ''into the 
house of the Lord" and "into the treasuries." And 
Malachi says, "Bring ye all the tithes into the store- 
house, that there may be meat in mine house." 

But what about New Testament giving? Is the 
law of the tithe still in force in the Christian dispen- 
sation? We will agree to a few propositions sug- 
gested, I believe, by Mr. Kane, of Ohicago : 

1. We owe a part of our income to Ood's cause. 

2. The rich should give of their abundance and 
the poor should not be denied the privilege of giving. 

3. Giving should be the result of principle, not 
of caprice. A haphazard method is not of God. He 
is a God of order. 

4. He who receives a regular income should give 
a regular amount to God's cause. The teacher, 



r»00 A Message for You. 

preacher, clerk or mechanic knows the lamonnt due 
God's house at the end of the week or month. Mer- 
chants, farmers, physicians, lawyers, manufacturers 
will pay as their bills are collected. 

5. iGrod loves a cheerful giver. Giving should not 
be forced. The offerings of hearts of love is his de- 
light. 

6. We should pay weekly on the first day of the 
week, wherever it is possible. Paying is part of wor- 
ship. It takes its place with singing and prayer in 
the service of God's house. 

We agree to these propositions. But they lack 
definiteness. They fail at 'one vital p'oint. The ques- 
tion, what proportion should we pay, is not answer- 
ed. Should we pay a penny, a dime, or a dollar? 
There is much confusion. We do not have practical 
ideas. We need instruction. 

We say that we owe everything to the Lord. Does 
•that mean that we are to sell our property and pay 
everything into God's treasury? 

CUB OWN WAY. 

We teach the people to give until they feel it. That 
is u'ot good instruction. It would not do in dealing 
with a bank or any business firm. It might hurt 'our 
feelings to pay our honest debts. 

We say consecrate your time, talents and property 
to the Lord. Are we to understand then that we are 
to pay it all into the church ? 

We say follow your conscience. But how unen- 
lightened and selfish that may ^be. 



A Message for You. 301 

god's arithmetic. 

To say, lay -by weekly, does not settle the question 
of the proportion. It does not tell how much. We 
are dealing with elementary principles. The a, b, c 
of giving needs teaching. 

Wihat rule is better than the only one God ever 
gave to man and which he never abrogated ; but com- 
mended in the New Testament? 

But it is objected that the tithe is not just. The 
rich can easily give it but it would work injustice to 
the poor. 

One man's income is $5,000 a year, another man's 
income is $500. Where is the justice of tithing in 
these cases ? A tenth of $5,000 is $500, while a tenth 
of the laboring man's income, $500 is $50. 

To this I reply that if $5,000 is ten times as much 
as $500, the tithe of the rich .man's income is also 
ten times as much as that of the poor man, so that 
the proportion is maintained. Each pays systemat- 
ically and according to his income. 

Upon the question of tithing the incomes of rich 
and poor it may be remarked : 

BORN LEADERS. 

1. Men have different ability to make money. 
And the question of money making capacity is inde- 
pendent of the tithe. If there was no such thing as 
the tithe the difference in talent to accumulate would 
remain. Some are horn to lead, 'others to follow. 
Some are born captains among men and others "hew- 
ers of wood and carriers of waters." 



302 A Message for You. 

2. Responsibility is increased with, the increase of 
wealth. More is expected of the rich than of 
the poor. We believe that the titzhe is the least that 
any should pay into the treasury of the Lord. 

There is recognition of vows and freewill offer- 
ings. The rich should pay abundantly more than 
merely one^enth. The Jews gave every two years 
two-tenths and it iis thought by Bible scholars, that 
every three years a third tenth, was paid. And this 
writer's observation has been that the rich complain 
more against paying the tithe to Ood than do the 
poor. And they backslide more from it when their 
income is increased. 

NINE TENTHS. 

3. The remaining nine-tenths go farther in pro- 
viding a living tban the whole income would if re- 
tained. That is nine-tenths are more in Grod's arith- 
metic than ten-tenths. This looks like an impossi- 
bility. But ' * the things tbat are impossible with men 
are possible with God. ' ' 

But the statement is founded upon facts. Thos. 
Kane, a layman of Chicago, has for the past genera- 
tion published a pamphlet on, ^'"What we owe and 
how to pay it" — a pamphlet which 'has been circu- 
lated by the millions in England and America. 

In this publication he states that he never knew 
a person to be injured financially by paying the tithe ; 
but on the other hand he found that the blessing of 
the Lord, both temporally and spiritually, has been 
upon those who honor Him with their substance. 



A Message for You. 303 

He then asks his readers what their experience and 
observation have been. He received hundreds of let- 
ters testifying to the temporal blessing that came to 
them from paying the tenth of their income to God's 
cause. There was scarcely an exception to the rule 
worthy of notice. 

Does it look unreasonable? Ood asks a tenth of 
our income, and a seventh of our time as sacredly be- 
longing to him. 

Suppose that we did not have the Sabbath day and 
knew nothing of it, and that some congressman were 
to offer a resolution recommending that all business 
and trade should stop on the Sabbath day — ^that the 
people all over the land should be required to ob- 
serve one day in seven as a day of rest. I can un- 
derstand that statesmen would oppose the resolution 
as working hardship to the laboring classes. They 
would say ''the rich can afford it; but the poor can 
not. Such a law will work their undoing." 

But we have had experience. We know better. In 
communities where the Sabbath is observed, the peo- 
ple live better, are better morally and are higher 
grade people than in communities w'here the Sabbath 
is disregarded and the people work and play seven 
days in the week. 

SYSTEM IN PAYING. 

In the same way it has been found that those who 
pay the tithe to God are prospered. You ask w'hy? 

1. It introduces system into a man's business. 
And system always pays. 



204 A Message for You. 

2. When a man believes Grod and is obedient to 
his claims, he rises in the scale of manhood. He be- 
comes a stronger, more trnst-worthy man. He w^ho 
meets one great requirement, in the fear of God, be- 
gins to measure up all around. Virtues grow in 
clusters;. Thus God hlesses him with a larger man- 
hood and a larger life. 

GOD IS HERE. 

He may also touch other hearts by his response to 
the call of Ood and the claims of his fellow man upon 
him. 

Do we 'believe that Ood is present in his world, and 
that he lives in human hearts? Do we believe that 
he knows and cares for his children? This writer, 
with thousands of God's children, has experienced 
the truth that God hears and answers prayer with 
reference to the temporal things of life. 



(I am greatly indebted to Thomas Kane, of Chicago, 
and other writers for my illustrations and thoughts on 
this subject. How much I may have unconsciously drawn 
upon them I know not). — W. T. 



A Message for You. 305 

CHAPTER XLYII. 
TO THE AOED. 

"To me the grandest form of humanity is the aged form 
How often, in fact, does it draw a thoughtful man in a 
gay company, from the charms of youth, and all the im- 
portunity of their attractions, to the side of its venerable- 
ness, wisdom and beauty! — Orville Dewey, in "The Prob- 
lem of Human Destiny." 

''I used to lead the c'hoir, teacli in the Sunday 
school, and lead in church work. I really wondered 
what the church would do when I was gone, but now 
I am down and out. What could I do in the choir? 
Young' people would laugh at my singing. I am be- 
hind the times, broken down, and no account. I do 
not even go to church regularly. People want to 
know w'hat church I lam a member of. I tell them 
that I scarcely know whether I belong to any church. 
I am not worth much anywhere. I can't do any- 
thing. I just live out here on the farm. It is con- 
venient to send the children to the university, you 
know. ' * 

These words from a man past middle life, some- 
what broken in health and spirits, reveal the feelings 
■of many a man as he approaches old age. 

'^INTO MY SHELL.''' 

Another who was nearing his sixtieth year said, 
*'I find a tendency to ''go into my shell." It is a 
fight to keep interested in people and things and life 



306 A Message for You. 

around me. I feel that there is no use. It is not 
worth while. It don't pay. Let others do these 
things. Let young people fight the battles. ' ' 

Slow to acknowledge that we 'are growing old, we 
approach this stage of life with a degree of hesitan- 
cy. 

''l STUMBLE.^^ 

An lold gentleman said, ' ' I feel hadly when I think 
how I stumble on the streets. I start 'out like I used 
to w^hen I was young, but soon find that I am get- 
ting clumsy. I do not step where I aim to, generally 
a little short of the mark, and so I am always a little 
disappointed in the walk. 

LOOKING BACKWARD. 

When my children were little I found myself plan- 
ning and working for their future. I was interested 
in their education, their health, their company, every- 
thing that made for their well-being. Now they have 
grown up, some of them are married, and scattered 
from home, and all are doing well. I find myself not 
looking forward so much as back upon the past. This 
makes me lonesome. It reminds me that I am grow- 
ing old." 

We 'Can't help it. We must grow old and die. We 
might as well give up to it. 

When we are young everything is new and fresh, 
everythinig is given to us.. We rejoice in this gift, 
and that new found possession ; but as we pass along 
the way of life we lose this gift and that friend. 



A Message for You. 30T 

TAKE NEW ROOT. 

And we may come to feel that all is loss and life is 
desolate. Against this spirit we must guard as the 
years advance. Do you ask how we may do this. By 
taking new root. By growing new wood every year. 
Are the friends of other years gone? Make friends, 
of your neighbors. If the old men are removed, or 
have died, make friends of the young. Enter into 
their sports, their studies, their ambitions, their life. 
You may not feel cheerful, but act good cheer, and 
you will feel it more. You will be more cheerful, at 
least you will be more tolerable to others and to 
yourself. 

BE A BLESSING. 

Do not let your thoughts be too much on yourself. 
Do not pity yourself. Think of others. Be a bless- 
ing. Be a flowing stream rather than a stagnant 
pond. The argument for this ds, that we are alive 
yet, and since we are living it is for some good pur- 
pose. It is that we may be good and do good work. 
Then sing some cheerful song. Sing every day : 

*'0h! the good that we may do 
As the years are passing by." 
''wake up and move on."" 

The nerves may be weak, the 'brain cells drying up 
the whole body on the decline. But it is fatal to 
yield to discouragement. Thoughts of evil speak of 
fear and dread of the future. These point to decay 
and hasten it. It is safe to keep waked up and mov- 
ing on, to do what we can do, to insist upon taking 



'?08 A Message for You. 

an interest in life, to be a part of tlie moving proces- 
sion. 

If one cannot accomplish what he did in other 
years, he may still do something. Tihe attempt to do 
well may keep him bright, useful and happy. The 
resolution to keep young, according to one's years 
and strength, is wise. Many fthus prolong life, con- 
tinue the right use of their faculties, extend their 
usefulness, and enhance their happiness. 

WORTH MORE TO THE WORLD. 

When a man has passed his sixtieth mile-stone he 
has certainly had so much experience that his life 
should be richer in wisdom and love, and all the 
Christian graces. He should be worth more to the 
world than at any previous period of his life. The 
rawness of youth and the heat of passion passed he 
should be a benediction. He may not be so active, 
but his 'better poise, the bitterness and strife of ac- 
tive life gone, his life mellowed and ripened, he may 
be a blessing everywhere. 

Of how many lives is the following a picture : ' ' A 
ship lately came into port. It had long been upon 
the sea; the coal gave out, then everything in turn 
that would burn, cargo, stores, spars, furniture, had 
to be burned to bring the vessel to the harbor. She 
anchored at last with nothing left worth anchoring. 
'So many men come into the port of old age, having 
fburned up everything of manhood, 'character and 
hope, rich in the world's eyes, mayhaps, but wretch- 
ed wrecks in Ood's eyes." 



A Message for You. 300 

How noble is the aged Ohristian character. A 
ripe age reminds us of the yellow harvests, and the 
golden grain. Seed time and cultivation have refer- 
ence to harvest and are meaningless without it. 

The virtues of this period are matured ; the spirit 
chastened, the whole life softened. The bitterness 
and strife of life over the aged pilgrim sits se- 
rene in the rays of the western sun. ''The hoary 
head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of 
righteousness." Often the providences of God seem 
to hand him down to his grave in peace like ''a shock 
of corn Cometh in his season. ' ' 



310 A Message for You. 

OHAPTEE XLVIII. 

THE iWHOiLB WIDE WORLD. 

"The ligiht that shines farthest 
Shines brightest nearest home." 

It means more to be a CliristiarL now than it did 
fifty years ago. Our horizon is widened. Our oppor- 
tunities are greater. "We may live larger lives. He 
who has no larger Christ than men had a generation 
ago, is stunted in his spiritual growth. 

The story of the good Samaratan has been inter- 
preted to mean, I am to do good to my neighbor, he 
whose lot joins imine, or who lives on the adjoining 
farm. But now we understand that our neigibbors 
live also in Japan and Africa, and in India, as well 
■as in the same town with ns. 

The happenings of the world are known by the 
workingman at his hreakfast table the next morning. 
The daily paper is a history of the world for one day. 

Telegraphs and telephones tie all parts of our own 
country together. The cable connects the ends of 
the earth. Railroads and ships are our ready ser- 
vants. We are but a few hours distant from the 
ends of the earth. 

A generation ago comparatively, few people cross- 
ed the ocean ; multiplied thousands do so every year. 
The path through old ocean is well worn these days. 

The world seems smaller ; men are closer together. 



A Message for You. 311 

The solidarity of the race is better understood. The 
brotherhood of man is being recognized. We are in 
touch with men all over the world. 

A city on fire ; a mob, drouth, earthquake, famine, 
plague or war devastating any region, is known in 
twenty-four hours. We feel the thro'b, and suffer 
with those who suffer. We say the unfortunate are 
'Our brothers and sisters. And we pour out prayers, 
and sympathy and money, and relief. This was not 
possible a generation ago. To live in this age and 
country is a great opportunity. 

''We are living, we are moving. 

In a grand and awful time. 
In an age on ages telling 

To be living is su'blime." 

View the world movement from the point of need 
of the home land. 

A million people pour into this country every year 
from every land. All nationalities, tribes, colors, 
creeds and conditions come and mix and mingle in 
our cosmopolitan life. 

Some American cities are more foreign than Amer- 
ican. A very babel of voices may 'be heard upon our 
streets. We need not go to foreign fields to see for- 
eigners. God has sent them to our shores. They 
fill our streets. They are our next door neighbors. 
They work in our fields. They are with us in our 
shops and stores and homes. 

A writer has said, ''in 1909 our population was 



ol2 A Message for You. 

84,000,000; but the foreign-born part of it bas in- 
creased to near 20 per cent. Or the foreign-born 
and the children of the foreigner <make one-third of 
the entire population of the United States. 

*'New York City has two million of foreign born 
people, to say nothing of the children of the foreign- 
er. It is the most Jewish city in the world. In one 
school there is in attendance children of eighteen 
nationalities. 

"Boston is more foreign than New York; 70 per 
cent of her population is either foreign born or one 
generation removed. 'Chicago has two millions of 
people, and some one figures out that if those of for- 
eign birth and their children should, on some fine 
day move out, the city would have only about 100,000 
people left. 

"Milwaukee is also a foreign city; 80 per cent of 
her people were bom outside of the United 'States, or 
are the children of those born elsewhere. We have 
several cities more Irish than Dublin, more Italian 
than Rome, more German than Berlin, and more Ser- 
vian than Belgrade." 

The vast field challenges the church to prove her 
divine mission to save the perishing multitudes. 

But look aJbroad. Christ died not alone for the 
Caucasian race or the people of America. He tasted 
death for every man. The gospel is for all. He 
'Commissions the church to go ' ' into all the world and 
preach the gospel to every creature. ' ' 

The condition of the heathen beggars description. 



A Message for You. 313 

Millions of people in India never know what it is 
to "have their hunger satisfied. Millions can afford 
only one meal a day. Famines that carry to the 
grave uncounted multitudes are of frequent occur- 
rence. And we revel in luxury. Hordes of savages 
roam the desert of Africa without any certain home, 
eating what they can pick up as they wander aim- 
lessly over the earth, with no clothing except a cloth 
over the middle portion of their bodies. 

It is said that one man of every three that walks 
the earth has never heard of Christ. 

One hundred and fifty years ago there was no mis- 
sionary society. They are now everywhere. The 
idea of converting the heathen was treated as '*the 
dream of the dreamer who dreamed that he had 
dreamed." One distinguished light, in his genera- 
tion, said to Carey, whose heart 'burned with mission- 
ary zeal, to bring the gospel to the neediest of men, 
"Young man, when G-od wants to convert the heath- 
en, he will do it without your help or mine. ' ' 

Men might remain Christians with the dim light of 
that day. They can scarcely do so now. "The times 
of this ignorance Ood winked at, 'but now command- 
eth all men everywhere to repent." 

The church that is not missionary in spirit is out 
of step with Christ and the progress of the kingdom. 

•Christian literature of a past generation said little 
about redeeming the world, but modern Christian 
libraries abound in missionary thought. A great lit- 
erature has sprung up big with the spirit of aggress- 



314 A Message for You. 

ive Cliristiaiiity. Courses of mission study are be- 
ing pursued all over the church. 

'Ministers out of harmony with the gospel for all 
men are at discord with the best the church stands 
for in this missionary age. 

An anti-mission church is anti-proigress, and on its 
way to sure death. 

'Such churches may say, ''"We cannot afford to 
send money or men to the ends of the earth. We 
need our resources. But they illustrate the truth; 
"He that would save his life shall lose it." And 
there is that withholdeth more than is meet, and it 
tendeth to poverty." 

The 'Christian spirit is the missionary spirit. Chris- 
tians live for the same purpose for which Christ died, 
to save the world. 

''God bless me and my wife, 
My son John and his wife, 
Us four, and no more," 
is the prayer of a fond, little, selfish soul.. 

He who has caugiht the spirit of the Christ tri- 
umphantly sings and shouts : 

"The whole, wide world for Jesus, 

This shall our watchword be, 
Upon the highest mountain, 
Down by the widest sea ; 
The whole wide world for Jesus, 

Proclaim the gospel tidings 
'Till every tongue confess him 
Through the whole, wide world. ' ' 



A Message for You. 315 

Our marcliing orders have never been revoked. 
We are to go into all the world and preach the gospel 
to every creature. "All the world, and ''every 
creature." How far-reaching and how searching. 

We are to go hy our prayers, by our smypathies, 
by our gifts, large and small. We are to go in per- 
son, when possible, because of the commission and 
the urgent need. We are to go or send. We cannot 
be indifferent. We cannot quibble. We cannot de- 
ny or oppose and be the friends of Christ. 

God's blessing is upon this forward movement. 
A dollar spent in foreign fields yields larger returns 
than a dollar invested in the home work. This does 
not mean that we should spend less for the work at 
hom^ but lavish more upon the destitute perisihing 
of earth. 

Bishop Thobum, of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, baptized hundreds of converts in one day in 
India. Thousands could be received and brought 
into the church if we had teachers and pastors to in- 
struct and care for them, but it is unwise to baptize 
and leave them without instruction and pastoral 
oversight. They might lapse into heathenism, and 
their last state be worse than the first. 

A generation ago we prayed for opportunities for 
open doors for the gospel. That prayer is answered. 
Every land is open to the gospel. The fields are ripe 
unto the harvest. And the urgent cry is, "Gome 
over and help us. " 

Another prayer is offered for laborers to go into 



ol6 A Message for You. 

the harvest fields. This prayer also is being answer- 
ed. iHundreds of men and women, the flower of our 
colleges and universities, are offering themselves as 
missionaries to (go to any land. They say, ''Here art* 
we; send us." 

Another prayer heing offered iby God's people ir 
for money to send these consecrated young people as 
preachers, 'teachers, physicians, nurses, artisans and 
all sorts of workers to benighted nations of earth. 

The people of heathen lands are falling out with 
their priests, their temples and idolatry. As the 
light breaks upon them they outgrow the traditions 
of centuries and their dead religions. Uncounted 
millions are waiting for something to satisfy the 
longing of their souls. The people of the earth are 
awakening to a consciousness of need. 

Ethiopia is stretching forth her hands. The gospel 
idea is fully launched. The next hundred years will 
witness wonderful advancement in poor, dark Af- 
rica. 

But the cry is for money. We have the open doors. 
The wor^kers are ready. We wait, we pray for mon- 
ey. Thank 'God this prayer is also being answered. 

But, oh the sparseness of the gift as compared with 
the money that iChristian nations spend for luxuries, 
for whisky, tobacco, chewing gum, jewelry, fine 
clothing, fine buildings, fine equipage, fine every- 
thing. 

Our pocketbooks need opening. We are too par- 
simonious to the cause of God to receive the largest 



A Message for You, 317 

blessings. God's spirit is "upon the missionary move- 
ment. We have too long withheld the tithes from 
God's house. Makeshifts in money raising for God 
is little business. They bespeak our lack of trust in 
God. The imperative call to the church is, ''Bring 
ye all the tithes into the storehouse and prove me 
now herewith, and see if I will not open the windows 
of heaven and pour you out a blessing." 

The effect of obedience to this plain command 
would be to revive the church, not with an emotional 
wave of revival, but with a revival of righteous- 
ness which would be as permanent as the practice is 
lasting. And it would at once put millions into 
God's treasury with which to bring the nations of 
the earth to the foot of the cross. 

THE OUTLOOK IS HOPEFUL. 

At a great laymen's missionary convention, held in 
Louisville, Ky., recently, a "round table" was con- 
ducted on the hopeful outlook in the worlds' move- 
ment which showed that : 

The world is arousing to a due appreciation of the 
Christ. Mohammedan leaders are asking w'hat is 
the power of this new religion ? 

Western civilization is spreading over the Orient. 
Our school system, government system and methods 
of business are being enquired into and adopted. 

A growing consciousness of need is seen among 
heathen peoples. 

The character of the native converts advertises the 
worth of Christianity. Our converts are true. They 



318 A Message for You. 

suffer. They stand for the faith against fearful odds. 

The Bible is Ibeing translated into all languages. 
It is more and more read hj the peoples of earth. 
Hunger for the word of Go'd is great. Mighty print- 
ing presses are busy ni^t and day, and great mis- 
sionary societies are sending the Bible to the ends 
of the earth. The Bible is the cheapest book in the 
world. 

Churches are arousing to new activity. The world 
for Christ in this generation is the slogan. The old 
idea of the gospel for home alone is not big enough. 
Fine churches, splendid choirs, cultured preachers 
with large salaries is not big enough enterprise for 
the redeemed and enlightened Christian. We have 
seen a vision and can never be satisfied with the old 
regime. 

Christians are finding a platform upon which all 
can stand. We are dropping mere technicalities and 
differences in theological statement, and aiming at 
the redemption of nations and continents. Love as 
a propelling power is moving Christians to concerted 
action and making us one in Christ. 

The laymen of the church are finding their place. 
Too long they were dormant. Now they are speak- 
ing, and what is more, are acting. They are organ- 
ized and are bringing the methods and enthusiasm 
of the business world into this all-conquering work 
of the kingdom. 

This is the day of great things for Cod and hu- 
manity. The king's business requireth haste. Let 



A Message for You. 319 

us speed the coming of his kingdom and the answer 
to the prayer He taught his disciples to offer: 

"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth 
as it is done in heaven. ' ' 

''Shall we whose souls are lighted 

With wisdom from on high, 
Shall we to men benighted 

The lamp of life deny? 
Salvation! salvation! 

The joyful sound proclaim, 
'Till earth's remotest nation 

Has learned Messiah's name." 



One copy del. to Cat. Div. 



lAAY II l^W 



Mm 11 nm 



DeacJdified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: Oct. 2005 

PreservationTechnologies 

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